ABORIGINALS OF EAST CENTRAL AUSTRALIA. 519 



A big- conobboree is held at each full moon. When the sun 

 goes down the old man goes to sleep, and the old woman (the 

 moon) and picaninnies (stars) walk about. 



Reliyioit. — They have a belief that human beings possess souls. 

 When a blackfellow dies it is supposed that the soul leaves his 

 body by way of the mouth, and enters the body of a whitefellow, 

 also passing in through the mouth. The whitefellow who thus 

 becomes the domicile of the dying black man's soul is supposed to 

 be born at the time of death of the blackfellow. 



The devil (koochoo) is also acknowledged. He lives in the 

 west. His skin is of a red color, and he has four eyes, two in front 

 and two at the back of his head. He comes to steal away the 

 young gins. He is exorcised and driven away by cries and shrieks 

 and the noise produced by knocking boomerangs together. Dreams 

 are also believed in, but an explanation as to the cause of them is 

 unknown. The names of the dead are never mentioned ; it is 

 thought that the deceased would never rest peacefully should his 

 name be spoken. 



Dancing is indulged in, being very similar in style to the antics of 

 the native companion. A circle is formed by the men, who dance 

 until thoroughly exhausted. The women keep in the background, 

 and an old man keeps time by knocking two boomerangs together. 

 The tallest and best-looking of the men acts as leader of the 

 dance. 



Corrobborees for various purposes are held, such as for making 

 rain, fish, or rats, but the details are too disgusting to be described. 



Weapons. — Boomerang, nulla nulla, spear, and shield. 



Utensils. — Koolaman (bowl for holding water) ; nets made of 

 native flax, fur fishing and snaring ducks ; stone knife ; stone 

 tomahawk ; two flat stones for crushing nardoo and pigweed seeds. 



Blackf'elloivs' Names. — Kooripipinna, Appa-kulta, Toondroo- 

 wonko-inmi, Wadoo-woka, Watti-wattina, Tiing-alli, Watti-kat- 

 tanna, Oooroo-charoo. 



dins' Names. — Paioo-moogunna, after a fish; Nooyoo-nackaroo, 

 after a fire : Akka-willi-likka, after a fire ; Xaru-wa, after a fire ; 

 Wilyerooroo-mun-nung-arrie, after wind ; Wumma, after a snake ; 

 Kal-li-irri. after a fire; Wooti-inna, alter a snake; Yarragun- 

 inna, after a snake. 



DIALECT. 



English. Native. 



English. Native. 



Ants Merri-ka 



Arms Bul-ya 



Anus Milyerrie 



Back Moo-da 



Bag Yak-koota 



Barkoftiee . Y'et-an-na 



Big Tip-pee 



Bite Mut-tanna 



Bone Wal-poo 



Boy \Vee-i 



Blood ...... Koo-marri 



Beard Mun-ka 



Breasts Mum -ma 



Bread Mulya-mi 



Brother .... Noo-yoo 



Blowing .... Pool-ko-anna 



