NORTH QUEENSLAND ETHNOGRAPHY BOTH 179 



of en trance- way ; there are no marked trees or distinctive .signs 

 anywhere around. The novice, in company with others in the 

 same predicament, is made to sit at a fire on the eastern side of 

 the space, at some distance removed, and from here he watches the 

 elder men taking part in the performance, though he is not per- 

 mitted to witness them actually dressing themselves, their sole deco- 

 rations consisting of the cockatoo feather head-dress and a streak 

 of white paint on face and trunk (PI. lii., fig. I) with sometimes 

 another or two put on the thighs of the leaders. Dancing com- 

 mences at sunrise to continue until about breakfast-time, and 

 starts again when the sun is getting low until sunset. It consists 

 of a representation at each performance of the antics and move- 

 ments peculiar to the following animals, and many others, ex/., 

 native-companion, mopoke, eagle-hawk, sparrow-hawk, owl, frog, 

 iguana, dead blackfellow, whistler-duck (all in this particular 

 order), etc. That relative to the native-companion always comes 

 first. It is said that a very long time ago this bird found a 

 ground-chili, and not knowing what it then was, ate it, with the 

 result that not oidy did his head and beak take on a scarlet colour, 

 but that he got all hot and "all-same drunk"; and that it 

 was during this predicament that he learnt his steps which he 

 subsequently taught to all the other animals and birds in the order 

 mentioned, each finally coming to have a special one of its own. 

 These performances are repeated almost daily until the commence- 

 ment of the wet season, when the dancing, instead of ceasing at 

 sunset, continues all night until sunrise, the pre-prandial one 

 being at the same time discontinued. All this time the novices 

 do not approach anywhere near the general camp, or the women, 

 but are tended night and day by one of the elder men who take 

 on this duty turn and turn about. They are permitted certain 

 foods only and forbidden others ; among the former are dugong, 

 kangaroo, opossum, lily-roots and seed, Vitis trifolia root, and 

 (big-bee) honey, while the latter include yams, (small-bee) hone}', 

 eel, stingaree, turtle, big mullet or any other big fish, ted bream, 

 and anything else red. They also learn and have to avoid the 

 animals belonging to their own exogamous group. The names of 

 all these forbidden things must not be mentioned by them, 

 although they may be indicated by signs ; any transgression in 

 this respect would be followed by disease. They also regularly 

 practise the various dances the}' see performed, especially those 

 peculiar to their own particular group, but they do this well 

 away from the circular space, which they are strictly forbidden 

 to enter ; they are also told all the places and things that are 

 tabu. When at last the ceremony is over, with the commencing 

 wet season, they return to the general camp, but dare not mention 

 anything they have seen or heard to either their mothers, sisters, 



