Burbling of the New England Tribes, N.8.W. 135 



to another ; but from this time forth they are freed from carrying 

 the fire. They are, however, kept under the surveillance of their 

 guardians for some time yet, during which they must abstain 

 from certain kinds of food enumerated by the old men of their 

 tribe. The novices must not let a woman's shadow fall upon 

 them, or on their weapons, or anything worn by them. This 

 shadow is called tawanba, and is superstitiously avoided. 



Co7iclusion. — In the preparation of this article I have been 

 obliged to deal only with the most important parts of the cere- 

 monies, and to abridge my descriptions of them as much as 

 possible, in order to keep the paper within reasonable limits 

 for publication ; but it is hoped that the details will be found 

 sufficiently full for ordinary purposes of comparison with similar 

 rites celebrated in other parts of Australia. 



The extraction of a front tooth has not been practised by the 

 New England tribes for many years, and as there appear to be 

 grounds for doubt as to whether the custom was ever in force in 

 some districts of New South Wales, any further remarks on 

 this part of the subject will be deferred until additional investi- 

 gations have been made. It may be stated, however, that the 

 whole of the interesting ceremonial in connection with the 

 knocking out of a tooth, as practised by several native tribes 

 with which I am acquainted, has been particularised by me in 

 other publications. 



Lying between the eastern margin of the Tableland of New 

 England and the Pacific Ocean is a large tract of country, 

 extending from about the Hunter River northerly along the 

 coast as far as the Clarence, peopled by a number of tribes 

 differing more or less in their dialects, but having substantially 

 the same class system. The initiation ceremony of these tribes 

 is known as the Keeparra, which is of the same type as the 

 Burbung herein described, all the essential points being almost 

 identical in both, although many of their details differ considerably. 

 It may, therefore, be said that practically the ceremonies described 

 in this paper represent those in force in the whole of the country 

 between New England and the sea coast. 



As before stated, the New England tribes are bounded on the 

 west by the Kamilaroi, whose taurat, or country, extends down 

 the Severn, Macintyre, Gwydir, Namoi, and other rivers to their 



