Bv.vhii ng of the Neiv England Tribes, N.S.W. 125 



One of the head men now goes along the group of boys, bend- 

 ing their heads down, and throws a rug over each boy, so that 

 they can only see the ground at their feet. The sound of the 

 bullroarer is then heard in the direction of the smaller ring, and 

 it quickly gets nearer. Two men are engaged in this duty, one 

 on each side of the pathway connecting the two circles. 



The guardians now step forward and lead the boys away out 

 of the ring, and away along the track to the beginning of the 

 marked trees, where they are placed lying on the ground, the 

 group of boys belonging to each tribe having their heads pointing 

 in the direction of their own country. In some instances the 

 heads of all the novices are in the direction of sun-set. Here 

 they are covered over with rugs, and are kept about a quarter or 

 half an hour, till the women depart from the lai'ge ring, as will 

 be described presently. 



The boys are then helped to rise, and the rugs are adjusted over 

 their heads in such a manner that a small opening is left at the 

 face, the rug projecting at each side like a hood. This is done in 

 order to prevent the boys from seeing anything except what is 

 straight in front of them. One of the men then pretends to see 

 a locust or bird, or something of the kind, in the air in the direc- 

 tion of the sun, and requests the boys to try if they can see it. 

 Having looked intently for some time, their eyes are so much 

 dazzled by the glare of the sun that they cannot see anything 

 distinctly for a s> - ood while afterwards, and everything around 

 them has a strange appearance. 



While their eyes are suffering from the effects of the sun's rays, 

 the guardians take them along the track and show them every- 

 thing marked on the ground and on the trees. When they come 

 to each marked tree, the men stoop down and scratch the loose 

 leaves away from its base, and rub their hands upon it, at the 

 same time inviting the novices to take particular notice of the 

 moombeera cut upon it. 



Removal of tlie Main Camp. — I must now return to the women 

 who were left at the large ring. As soon as the novices were out 

 of sight, the rugs and other coverings were taken off" the women 

 and children by some old men who remained in charge of them, 

 and they were told to rise to their feet. On looking at the 



