168 Proceedings of tJie Royal Society of Victoria. 



boy which may be here noticed, as they will serve to show 

 still more clearly the importance which is attached in the 

 native mind to the initiation ceremonies. From the time of 

 the handing of the tiresticks until the recovery from the 

 subsequent operation of ariltha the Mia must have no inter- 

 course with the father of the boy until the whole proceedings 

 are at an end. Any breach of this rule would result in the 

 Arakurta growing up into " Ertwa akurna " — a bad man or 

 " Atna-arpinta," that is too much given to sexual pleasures, 

 while strict observance will ensure his growing up " Ertwa 

 mura" or a good man (using the words good and bad in the 

 native sense). 



After presentation of the tirestick and until Lartna has been 

 performed the Mura tualcha woman (that is the future mother-in- 

 law of the boy) is *' ekirinja " that is tabu, to the actual Mia of the 

 lattei". When Lartna has been performed the Mui'a tualcha 

 woman goes to the camp of the Mia, and approaching her behind, 

 rubs her all over with red ochre, and the Mia hands to the other 

 woman a pitchi full of seed and in this way the tabu is I'emoved. 



While the Arakurta is out in the bush the Mia may not eat 

 opossum or the large lace lizard, or carpet snake, nor any fat, 

 as otherwise she will retard her son's recovery. 



Every day she greases her "yam" sticks and never allows them 

 out of Jier sight; at night time slie sleeps with them close to her 

 head. No one is allowed to touch them. Every day she is 

 most careful to rub her body witli grease and red ochre which 

 in some way is supposed to help her son's recovery. 



After the operation of Lartna the fore-skin is handed over to 

 the boy's Okilia — the oldest one present — who also takes charge 

 of the shield in the haft of which the blood has been collected. 

 The piece of skin is greased by the Okilia and given to a young 

 man who is Witia (younger brother) of the Arakurta and he 

 is told to swallow it, the idea being that it will strengthen him 

 and cause him to grow tall and strong. The shield is taken by 

 the Okilia to his camp where lie hands it over to his Unawa or 

 wife who rubs the blood over the breasts and foreheads of women 

 who are Mia AlkuUa (that is elder sisters of the Ijoy's actual 

 mother) and Ungaraitcha (elder sisters) of the boy. These 

 women must not on any account touch the blood with their 



