Burhing of the New England Tribes, N.8.W. 129 



do it in the rug he is lying in ; next night he is allowed to 

 micturate in one of the tires ; and the third and last night he 

 does it in the other tire. He must communicate his wish by 

 touching his guardian, who then helps him to his feet and leads 

 him to the tire. 



Having remained here the required time a shift is made early 

 in the afternoon to another camp, the boys being conducted by 

 their guardians in the same manner as before. This new camp 

 is formed in the shape of the letter V, the apex pointing in the 

 direction of the women's camp. It is formed of bark or bushes 

 according as to whether the weather is wet or tine. There are 

 two tires in front of it, like the last camp, and a clear space 

 beyond the tires for a corroboree ground. Besides the two 

 tires for corroborees, the men and boys may have several other 

 tires close to where they are lying, to keep them warm during 

 the night or clay. This camp is called Rooingat or "playing 

 place." The plays represent pheasants scratching the rubbish 

 into heaps, wonga pigeons, wild turkeys, kangaroos, fish, bears, 

 iguanas, bees. 



The men and boys camp round inside the V-shaped wall, and 

 when the play is going on at the other side of the fire the boys 

 are placed sitting in front of it, so that they can look at the men 

 playing. During the day, the men go out hunting to obtain 

 food, the boys remaining lying or sitting in the camp, some of 

 their guardians being present all the time. In the evening the 

 guardians and other men prepare food for the novices by remov- 

 ing all bone and sinew from the flesh while it is being cooked. 

 If a boy wants to micturate he does it in one of the tires the first 

 time, and in the other tire the next time, alternating between the 

 two tires. If he wants to evacuate, he is taken out by his 

 guardian a few yards from the camp, and the matter covered 

 over when he is done. During every night of the sojourn of the 

 boys in the bush, the bullroarer is sounded by one of the men 

 somewhere out of sight. 



When the men have been at this camping place a few days. 

 some men, goomat, meaning dingo, come from the women's camp 

 (Ahrowcifig). When these men get near the Rooingat camp, 

 they commence cooeeing in imitation of the dingo, or native 

 dog, and are answered by a shout from the camp. When 



