Initiation Ceremonies, Aruntc Tribe. 157 



to whom this ceremony refers is reported to have travelled in the 

 Alcheringa from a place called Pulkira west of the Finke River 

 to Walyirra, where he died and where his spirit remained, 

 associated as usual with a churinga. In connection with this 

 ceremony a large Waninga is made. This consists of a spear, 

 across which, close to each end, a short bar of wood is 

 attached ; strands of human hair string pass along from bar 

 to bar, closely side by side and at each end pass off slant-wise 

 towards the central spear. The whole structure is supposed to 

 represent the body of a rat. The main part is supposed to be the 

 trunk of the animal, the point end of the spear is the tail, and 

 the handle end is the head. The Waninga is carried by one of 

 the Okilia men while another man walks behind to steady it. 

 Two other men are decorated so as to represent two " Kutta 

 Kutta"or little night hawks. When all is ready the Wuttja 

 is led, blindfolded of course, to where the main hodj of men are 

 seated. The performers approach from the south side making 

 a circuit and walking with their backs towards the Apulia until 

 they are opposite and about thirty yards away from the Wurtja 

 when the bandage is quickly taken from the eyes of the latter. 

 Then the two " Kutta Kutta " men with both legs stretched 

 wide apart and hands holding a stick across their shoulders, 

 come along between the lines of the Apulia with a curious quick, 

 gliding movement, towards the audience and then rapidly I'etire. 

 Then the men with the Waninga run down the lines, stopping 

 every now and then as they bend the Waninga over towards the 

 Wurtja but without touching him ; then the}^ stand erect and 

 perform the quivering movement which is such a characteristic 

 feature in all the native ceremonies. This is done several times 

 and tinally all four performers come into the Apulia lines at the 

 same time, the "Kutta Kutta" men being at first in front, then 

 they retire to the side and the men bearing the Waninga come 

 on close to the Wurtja when a man steps out of the audience, 

 touches the performers and the ceremony conies to an end. Then 

 a man who is an Ikuntira, that is a possible father-in-law, to the 

 Wurtja takes the Waninga and fixes it upright in the Apulia 

 path, and the Wurtja is told by the Oknia and Okilia men, who, 

 as usual, sit close to him during the performance, to go out and 

 embrace the Waninga which he does for some minutes, the 



