Ill itidtioii Ccrciitouicx, Aranid Tribe. 155 



was associated with one of the sacied Chuiinga, numbers of 

 which each Alcheringa individual carried about with him or hei", 

 for in those days the women were allowed to carry the Churinga 

 just like the men, and then, in this case, the child has no definite 

 name but, of course, it belongs to the same group as did the man 

 who had carried the Chui-inga about in the Alcheringa, that is if 

 he were a kangaroo-man so must the child be, and then the old 

 men determine what shall be his secret or sacred name. 



It is in this way that the boy during the initiation ceremonies 

 is instructed for the first time in any of the sacred matters 

 referring to the totems, and it is by means of the performances 

 which are concerned with certain animals or rather, appai'eiitly 

 with the animals, but in reality with Alcheringa individuals 

 who were the direct transformations of such animals, that the 

 traditions which deal with this subject which is of the greatest 

 importance in the eyes of the native, are firmly impressed upon 

 the mind of the novitiate to whom everything which he sees 

 and hears is new and surrounded with an air of mystery. 



After the completion of this kangaroo ceremony the Wurtja 

 is taken back to his brake, and then a consultation of the Okilia 

 and Oknia is held for the purpose of selecting a man to perforni 

 the operation and also a man to assist the chief operator. Both 

 these men are called " Atwia-twia,"' and in addition to them a 

 man is selected whose duty it is to hold up the shield upon 

 which the boy is seated during the operation, this man being- 

 known by the name of "Elucha." The convei'sation is carried 

 on in whispers, the men when speaking placing their mouths 

 against each other's ears. While this consultation is in progress^ 

 the other men sitting close to the brake sing in fierce, loud tones, 

 the Ullakupera Lartna song — " Irriyulta yulta rai, etc."' 



After some little discussion it is decided that an old man who 

 is Mura to the boy is to act as " Atwia-twia," and that a man 

 who is Gammona to him is to act as his assistant, his duty 

 consisting in pulling forward the fore-skin, while another old 

 man who is Ikuntira^ to the boy is to be the shield bearer or 

 Elucha. It must be I'emembered that in addition to the 

 honour attaching to these offices there are cealain emoluments, 

 for when the operation is all over the boy has to provide each 

 of these men with an ofierin<}r of food. 



1 Ikuntira is the name }r'^'en to actual or tribal fathers-in-law. 



