BY E. PALMER, ESQ., M.L.A. 167 
source, too, of these crystals they profess to be a mysterious 
one. They are either obtained from the inside of blacks, being 
sucked or drawn out from them by the medicine men, or are 
found with some ceremony in the mountain districts, as the 
result of special expeditions, occupying some months, during 
which much privation and hardship is endured. These crystals 
play an important part in connection with the ceremonies attend- 
ing the coming of age of their young men, when the latter are 
initiated into the mysteries of the tribe, but they are also used 
for other purposes, such as for buying a “gin” from her uncle 
or father. 
WItTcHCRAFT. 
The black lives in continual dread of mysterious death, which 
he attributes not so much to some spirit agency as to the 
machinations of his foe or foes. In fact he scarcely regards 
death, unless due to accident, or even sickness, otherwise than 
as the work of some enemy who may be separated some distance 
from him, and he believes, too, that in his turn he can in like 
manner work destruction. This belief is almost universal 
amongst the Australian blacks. The Mycoolon tribe entertain 
many peculiar ideas as to the way in which these evil influences 
may be exercised. The blacks of this tribe can, as they think, 
command the thunder and lightning, the wind and the storm, to 
aid the accomplishment of their evil purposes, but have also 
special methods. 
BEECHARRAH. 
By this designation a death is implied, which is attributed to 
the following series of events : The victim is killed by an invisible 
spear. Some enemy of his (having prepared a spear by cutting it 
nearly through, by a circular incision with a mussel, a few 
inches from the end) steals stealthily upon him, as he is 
engaged in the chase, creeping from tree to tree, and while still 
unperceived, hurls itat him, The spear strikes him, but he is un- 
conscious of the fact ; it penetrates his body, but without rent or 
