BY K. H. MATHEW8. 35 



open end where they are about the height of one person, or not 

 so high. These stakes are inserted in holes dug in the ground 

 and are rammed in the same way that a white man rams the 

 posts when erecting a fence to keep them firm. Around outside 

 the stake yard there is an embankment composed of loose earth. 



Whilst away in the bush the boys are placed sitting down 

 and are not allowed to speak a word ; if they want anything 

 they must whisper their wishes to their guardians. They must 

 keep their hands shut, Avhich is very tiring when long continued ; 

 and in the summer time, owing to the sweat which collects in 

 the shut hand, fly-blows are often found. The guardians there- 

 fore open the hands of the boys, and rub grease upon their 

 palms to keep the flies ofl'. Incisions are made in the arms of 

 several men, and the blood flowing from the wounds is collected 

 in a native vessel, and some of this blood is rubbed on the bodies 

 of the novices. They are also compelled to eat human ordure 

 in the way doscril^ed by me elsewhere. During their stay in the 

 bush the boys aiv placed standing in a row, and the bullroarer 

 is shown to them. These bullroarers are jibout ten inches in 

 length, with a string fastened through a hole at one end, the 

 other eml of the string being attached to a pliable rod like a whip- 

 handle. A man catches holil of this rod in one hand and swings 

 it round, using the bullroarer something like a whip, jind it at 

 once begins to give a loud weird sound. 



Inxisiox. — On the western side of the Leichhardt river, and 

 extending thence across the Ijoundary between (Queensland and 

 the Northern Territory, are a number of tribes among whom the 

 practice of slitting the urethra is common. The custom is 

 known by difterent names in districts where diverse dialects are 

 spoken, but I think it is l)etter to adopt the I'^nglish word 

 " incision," which at once suggests its lueaning. I-'.. .1. l-^yre 

 was one of the first to record this singular mutilation, ■■ having 

 observed it in ISll among the native tribes about the (ireat 

 Australian Bight, and I'ort Lincoln. Since then it has been 

 reported from several parts of South Australia, West Australia, 

 and the Northern Territory, as wtdl as in that portion of North 

 Queensland extending from the Mulligan river to the (iulf of 

 Carpentaria. 



* Journs. Expeds. Diticovery Central Australia in 1840-11. Vol. II., p. 332 and note. 



