The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes. 167 



such as white stones, pieces of string, etc., out of their bodies. 

 When this kind of amusement has been indulged in for some 

 time, such of the men as are good singers commence chanting 

 Baiamai's song.* 



After breakfast next morning, two of the wizards go away 

 into the bush adjacent and smear their faces, arms and bodies 

 with human blood, taken from the arms of some of the men, and 

 come out to where a large tire has been lit, accompanied by about 

 half-a-dozen or more young men beating the ground with pieces 

 of bark and shouting "Barri-barri" repeatedly as they walk. The 

 two wizards referred to then chase the kooringal and guardians, 

 but not the novices, round the tire several times — the bullroarer 

 being sounded out of sight in the bush close by. The men with 

 the bark now sit down a short distance off, and continue beating 

 the ground ; and one of the wizards stands beside them having in 

 his hand a coolamin, out of which he drinks human blood. At 

 the finish, all hands, except the boys, dance and shout and close 

 in round the fire. After this the boys heads are turned away, 

 and the kooringal go into Boballai. 



When the head men consider that the novices (Wudhamurrin) 

 have gone through a sufficient course of instruction and discipline in 

 the bush, a number of strange men who have arrived at the women's 

 camp since the boys were taken away are despatched to liberate 

 them. These men are called the Beegay, and a messenger is 

 sent out to the kooringal to let them know they are coming. 

 The Beegay then start away from the main camp and proceed to 

 a water-hole in the bush, which has been decided upon by the 

 head men as the place where the kooringal and guardians are to 

 wash the black paint off their bodies. At this water-hole the 

 Beegay leave their personal effects in charge of a few of their 

 own men, and go into the bush in search of the kooringal 

 and novices. They know where to go, because the locality has 

 previously been determined upon. 



On the day which has been arranged to meet the Beegay, the 

 kooringal, bumboon and boys start out as usual and carry all 

 their things with them, as if shifting camp. When they reach 

 the appointed place, which is in a piece of open country, their 



* Journ. Anthrop. Inst., xxv., 334. 



