i i O'Donohue, Wanderings on the Murray Flood-Plain. [ V !V x\\Vi 



informed, was the prevailing one, but it would seem that most 

 of the strong winds blow from the west, since we subsequently 

 noted, in the neighbourhood of Mournpoul, that all, or nearly 

 all, tlir pines prostrated by the wind had fallen with their tops 

 to the east. On reaching our temporary camp, at 8.30, we 

 found that arrangements had been made by tin- manager of 

 the Kulkyne Station for us to spend the day at the homestead, 

 and proceed on the morrow to Mournpoul. 



Learning ol our lack of success on the sand-dune, Mr. 

 rhompson proposed a second visit after lunch. On this 

 occasion, under his guidance, we had no difficulty in finding 

 the principal burial-ground, which was situated on the 

 tern slope ol the dune, in close proximity to the river, so 

 that the body of the deceased mighl be more easily conveyed 

 to it- last resting-place in the frail bark canoe that must have 

 i 1 xtensively used by the Kulkyne tribe, since scores of 

 trees were noticed from which the bark had been stripped for 

 their construction. In nearly every instance the decorticated 

 tree had a more or less pronounced bulge in its trunk at the 

 spot from which the bark had been removed. The necropolis 

 was evidently oi considerable antiquity, for many robust trees 

 of the humour Acacia flourished on and among the graves, 

 and the Logs that had been placed upon the then newly-made 

 mound to protect the body from the depredations ol the dingo 

 wen- rendered by the weather as light as cork. Sinking down 

 several feel into the loose sand, the remains of a sheet ol red gum 

 bark was encountered, and beneath it, in a reclining position, 

 rested the skeleton, the feel being towards the east. From 

 the slender nature ol the bones, which were in an excellent 

 State o| preservation, and the fact that the jaws did not contain 

 the lull complement ol teeth, it was assumed that the remains 



were those ol an immature female. The mode of burial was 

 consistent with the blacks' custom oi the disposal ol deceased 

 females. In disposing ol the corpse oi a male the knees were 

 fastened to tin- neck, the amis to the body, and the legs were 

 firmly secured. The wrists were bound to the ankles, the 



thumb- wen tied tightly t" and the nails burnt, all 



these precautions having for theii objeel the prevention ol 

 the deceased's ghost from reaching 1 he surface aftei interment, 

 ami injuring or frightening In- formei friend and relatives. 

 Such elaborate precautions were no! taken with the corpse oi 

 .1 female, since women were a- little feared by men during life 

 as their spirits were after death. \ 1 general rule, the body 

 was placed between two sheets ol bark ami laid in the grave 

 at lull length. 



I he remaindei ol the day was ipeni in the vicinity ol the 

 Kulkyne home tead collecting botanical specimens and tiol 



