The Bora of the Ka/nvilaroi Tribes. 139 



I returned to Mungiiidi, where I learnt that the local tribe were 

 gathered on the Barwan River, not far away, and that the Gun- 

 dabloui and adjacent tribes were camped at Gnoolama, on the 

 Moonie River, about eighteen miles distant, waiting for rain to 

 enable them to proceed to Tall wood. I therefore visited these 

 tribes, and spent another fortnight gathering all the details I 

 could regarding their initiation ceremonies and other customs. 

 There I met Moogan Billy, Jack Bagot,* and other head men with 

 whom I had become acquainted when I was camped at Mungindi 

 in 1880, surveying that township for the Queensland Govern- 

 ment. They welcomed me as an old friend, and cordially gave 

 me all the assistance they could. 



It was now the end of July, and there being still no rain, or 

 any probability of the tribes referred to making an early start for 

 the Bora camp at Tallwood, I decided to leave the district. 

 Before starting away, I arranged with a gentleman living in the 

 district to furnish me with the date of the arrival of the last 

 contingent at Tallwood, and of the breaking up of the Bora 

 camp. I also asked one of the old blackfellows, as a personal 

 favour to me, to tell my correspondent the place where the 

 novices were taken during their sojourn in the bush, as well as 

 the location of the Thurrawanga camp, to which the kooringal 

 and their charge returned. This was all the additional informa- 

 tion I required, because I had already collected complete details 

 of the secret ceremonies which would be conducted in the bush. 

 My sable friend faithfully kept his promise, and from the 

 information which he subsequently supplied to my correspondent, 

 I have been enabled to add particulars respecting the date of the 

 commencement of the principal ceremonies, and the position of 

 the secret camp in the bush. 



On the 1st of September a small detachment of men and 

 women belonging to the Gundabloui, Mogil Mogil, and Mungindi 

 tribes arrived at the Bora camp, and were accorded the usual 

 reception. These blacks had been sent to represent the tribes to 

 which they l^espectively belonged, the rest of their people remain- 

 ing at Gnoolama, before referred to, as they did not care to 

 undertake the journey to the Bora ground owing to the severe 



#Journ. Anthrop. Inst., xxiv., 411. 



