NOTES ON THE ABOKIGINAX,S, ETC., 4T 



to the well-known septal divisions among them. These among 

 the Stradbrooke people were distinguished as "banduv" "bunta," 

 " barang" and "darawang;" feminine "baudm-un" "buntagun" 

 " barangun " and " darawangim." The women, I believe, had 

 very little say in the nreliminary arrangements, but a great 

 deal of say afterwards. 



In sickness they generally resorted to the white man, but 

 when attended to by themselves, the treatment consisted in the 

 form of massage followed by a prolonged sucking of the seat of 

 pain. This resulted in the production of a stone from the 

 mouth of the operator (one of the old men), which was supposed 

 to have been drawn from the place, and to have been the cause 

 of the ti'ouble. A friend who had once been operated upon 

 said, "He enjoyed the business, and certainly was relieved." 

 Some of these older men had considerable influence, which they 

 cultivated by claims of supernatural power. 



In the case of death the body was bound with the upper 

 part bent forward towards the knees, and enclosed in a wrapping 

 of tea-tree bark. It was carried to the place of interment slimg 

 to a sapling, and followed for a distance by the whole tribe. 

 The burial place was a considerable distance, in one case two or 

 three miles away. About half way the women and children 

 were left behind. The grave was dug in the sand, and kept 

 from falling in by a framework of saplings. It was lined with 

 tea-tree bark and the body laid in. This was covered with more 

 bark and saplings and then filled in with bush and sand. The 

 body was set down several times on the journey, when one of 

 the friends, who acted as chief mourner and master of the 

 ceremonies, would go to the wrapping, and placing his mouth to 

 the ear, where a hole was made for the purpose, enquire who 

 killed it. Wailing and howlmg was indulged in to a great 

 extent ; and the mourners cut themselves with oyster shells, 

 etc., till the blood streamed down. Wailing would be made 

 every evening for some weeks. The women used feathers and 

 down in the hair for mourning. On the occasion of a death the 

 camp where it took place was deserted, and a fresh camp made 

 in another neighbourhood. The name of the deceased was 

 never mentioned, and in the case of a child or other person 



