The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes. 155 



their weapons together and yelling hideously to make the women 

 believe they ai'e endeavouring to scare Dhurramoolun away. 

 After the men have gone once round within the ring, beating the 

 ground at every jump, they run away noiselessly along the track 

 to the goomee and burn the pieces of bark in the fire there. Two 

 men, one on each side of the circle, are sounding the bullroarers 

 all this time. The guardians then advance and each one catches 

 hold of his novice by the arm above the elbow, and bids him 

 stand up, with his face bent towards the ground and his arms 

 close to his side. The rug is now thrown off, and the boy is 

 marched away by his guardian along the track. During all this 

 time the men around the ring continue to shout and beat their 

 weapons together to prevent the gins hearing the boys going 

 away. These men then enter the circle and run round beating 

 their nullas together, and at the same time obliterating with 

 their feet, any impression which may have been left on the ground 

 by the mungawans, so that the women may not see them when 

 they get up. It frequently happens that small fragments of the 

 bark used in beating the ground break off and remain in the 

 ring. Some of the young men standing around carefully watch 

 for these fragments, and carry them away immediately and put 

 them on the fire. As soon as the jnufigawan men have gone 

 away, some of the men standing round pick up firesticks fi*om 

 the camp fire and throw them into the ring, scattering the embers 

 about.* Perhaps a few large stones are placed in the circle, dilly 

 bags and other things belonging to the women are hung upon 

 trees or scattered about. The men take up one or two of the 

 little children who cannot talk yet, and put a few marks of paint 

 on their faces or bodies. The women are told that the Evil Spirit 

 indulged in these playful freaks when he came for the boys. 



As soon as the guardians and novices are out of sight, the rugs 

 and bushes are removed off the women and children, and they are 

 allowed to rise. On looking round, half stupified by supernatural 

 terror and the unexampled din caused by the men, seeing the fire 

 scattered about and their boys gone, they give vent to bitter 

 lamentations for a few minutes. The fathers and relations of the 



* The same thing is done at The Burbling of the Wiradthuri Tribes. Journ. Anthrop. 

 Inst., xxv., 30S and 329. 



