238 



Hesh is off the bones. The bare bones are then collected and 

 placed in a hollow log about five feet long and ten inches in 

 diameter. The ends of tliis are closed with pieces of "paper-bark," 

 and the coffin is placed between the branches of a tree, well 

 secluded and away from their own haunts. Rocky ravines and 

 almost inaccessible places are invariably chosen as the last resting 

 place of the bones. At this final burial rite a great corroboree 

 takes place, varying in pomp according to the importance of the 

 departed. If he has been a great warrior, all his brave deeds are 

 then recounted, and he is immortalised by a special corroboree 

 made for him ; and thus his history and deeds are handed down. 

 Very little notice is taken of the death of a woman. 



54. Ghosts of the departed are generally believed in, but 

 while there is any Jiesh on the bones of the body recently placed 

 on the first tree, there is not the slightest fear of the ghost 

 appearing ; but immediately the coffin is placed in the secluded 

 spot, or, in other words, as soon as the flesh is all off the bones, 

 the ghost is liable to a23pear, and it is only at this time that it 

 is seen. When the ghost appears, the four men previously 

 mentioned, if living, remove the bones into the camp. If the 

 ghost follows, it is commanded by the old men in a corroboree to 

 leave, which it does, and is not again seen. If one of the four 

 men happens to die between the death of his friend and the 

 seeing of the ghost, his body, if not too offensive, is brought into 

 camp and is considered a certain remedy against the appearance 

 of the ghost of any person dying at that time. If they dream 

 of a ghost or any uncanny object, they believe they have abso- 

 lutely seen the ghost and act in every way as if they had. After 

 tlie disposal of the ghost, the bones are taken to another place. 



55. The persons engaged in the burial rites start a monoton- 

 ous dirge and continue it until the ceremony is over ; and, even 

 for weeks after the death, they are apt to break out in the 

 melancholy refrain. If a near relative happens to be away, when 

 the death occurs, and comes into camp a month after, he will 

 begin howling like a wild dog. I have frequently been compelled 

 to send them w^ord to desist. 



56-57. Neither the widow nor relatives have any special observ- 

 ances after the death of a warrior, and they wear nothing in 

 meinoriam beyond what has been related. There are no other 

 special customs or superstitions concerning the bones of the dead^ 



Murder. 

 58. A murder is avenged by the relatives of the victim ; in fact, 

 all members of the tribe are commanded to avenge the death. 

 All members of the murderer's tribe are responsible, and any of 

 them falling into the hands of the relatives of the victim are 

 put to death without any recognised form. 



