122 NATURAL SCIENCE [August 
General Programme.—TIn their general plan these ceremonies 
are much alike. The chief performer is elaborately decorated with 
patterns in eaglehawk down stuck to his body with blood drawn 
from some member of the party. This down is coloured red and 
yellow with ochre; other parts of the body are smeared with a 
black pigment mixed with grease. The amount of blood drawn on 
these occasions is at times surprising, it being estimated that one 
man allowed five half-pints to be taken from him during a single 
day. The decoration of this performer is completed while the black 
candidates, if they may be so termed, are away hunting. On their 
return to the sacred ground they dance vigorously round him for 
some time. In most of these performances the decorated men then 
imitate the actions of .the animal whose totem they bear, and in 
some cases the acting is described as wonderful. In one mock 
combat two performers represented two eaglehawks struggling for a 
bone, and wildly flapping their wings, which were represented by a 
bunch of gum leaves in each hand. 
The ‘ parra,’ or sacred ground, was laid out with great care, and 
one of the most peculiar sights was to see the candidates lying in a 
row with their heads close to a long bank of earth, as they were 
required to do during most of the nights. Absolute silence was 
entailed, and the strain during the months through which the 
ceremonies lasted must have been great, and have considerably 
influenced the hysterical, exalted frame of mind which they at 
times showed. 
Fire Rites.—After a month devoted to preliminary rites the 
fire ceremonies began. The men to be initiated formed into a body, 
and, holding a shield of gum leaves over themselves, went to the 
women’s camp. They were accompanied by a number of the old 
men swinging bull-roarers. This seems to be the only occasion on 
which the women, on hearing the dread sound, do not run and hide 
themselves, nor are they at any other time allowed even to gaze 
upon the sacred implement. _The women who were prepared, ran 
at the body of men, and threw burning branches on to them, which 
the men tried, not very effectually, to ward off with their roof of 
leaves. This ceremony was repeated daily for about a fortnight. 
Next, a large fire, about twenty feet across, was made and covered 
with green leaves ; on this terrible heap the candidates lay for some 
time, several at once, others calmly standing by and waiting their 
turn. The heat of the fire was very considerable. Professor 
Spencer knelt on the heap to try it, but could not endure it, even 
with thick trousers on. This performance was concluded by all 
present howling and hurling firesticks about. 
During the evening, when all the candidates were lying in a 
row as usual, one of the old men seated himself before them with a 
