780 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 
food he picked up when and where he could. He was, however 
not allowed to eat some things, notably the cuttle-fish, which they 
say runs backwards, and so a boy eating that is sure to grow up 
to be a coward. 
HIS ENTRANCE INTO LIFE. 
As Tepang grew up his parents were very properly anxious 
that he should become a member of the secret societies, and so 
steps were taken for his initiation. The first probably of these 
societies into which he was admitted would be the Dukduk. 
Many considerations no doubt influenced his parents to take this 
step (1) The Society is a powerful one, and there is a certain 
amount of prestige in belonging to it. (2) Many of their son’s 
comrades were members of it, and Tepang would certainly make 
trouble if his parents did not find the money for his entrance 
fees. (3) He would certainly be fined sooner or later for some 
real or imaginary breach of the Dukduk’s laws, and as they would 
have to pay the fine it was cheaper to pay the fees. (4) There 
was always a certain amount of plunder obtained by the Dukduk, 
and they naturally wished for Tepang to have a share. The 
Dukduk is a society of men whose principal object is to extort 
money from everyone else who is not a member, and to terrify 
women and those who are not initiated. They have a “ sacred ” 
piece of land called the ‘“tareu” in which their house or lodge- 
room is placed. Here the dresses of the Dukduk are prepared, 
and from this place the Dukduk go out whooping and dancing to 
terrify or amuse the people. Here also the members congregate 
all day long whilst Dukduk operations are in force, and gossip, 
eat, and sleep to their heart’s content. No woman nor uninitiated 
person dare go near this sacred enclosure. The Dukduk is 
represented to the outside public by a figure dressed in a full leaf 
girdle, composed of rings of leaves strung together extending 
from the breast to below the knees. These when shaken as the 
figure dances increase the awe with which Dukduk is regarded. 
The upper part of the body is covered by a high conical mask 
gaily ornamented, made of wicker work, and covered also with 
leaves or cloth. This extends down over the shoulders and arms 
and rests upon the leaf girdle, so that the whole of the man’s 
body is covered with the exception of a part of his legs. He 
often carries a spear or stick, and sometimes also a human skull 
in his hands as he goes whooping and dancing along the paths. 
Often two or three Dukduks emerge from the ‘tareu.” The 
women and boys all hide as these figures go along. They are 
supposed to believe that the Dukduk is a spirit from the bush, 
and they very wisely pretend to do so. Some of these Dukduks 
have only a short black mask instead of the gaily ornamented one. 
These are the females who give birth to the Dukduk proper. 
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