13 



ing the Gulf of Carpentaria,"^ such as the Anula, Mara, and 

 Binhlnga, do sof to the same extent as in the Central Austra- 

 lian tribes. The rite was not observed in the tribe at the 

 mouth of the Victoria River.]: 



The Initiation Ceremony of the Larkekiya Girl. 



Although the girls of the Larrekiya and Wogaits are 

 given away to men at a very early age, no cohabitation must 

 take place until after the "smoking ceremony" of the girl, 

 which is known as Mdiiniuyu by the Larrckryan, and X itkur- 

 rum by the Wogaits. 



When the menses have commenced she must undergo the 

 following ceremony, which takes place at night-time, and at 

 some distance from the main camp, though not necessarily 

 out of sight of it. Men do not attend, but may witness the 

 proceedings from the camp at a distance. 



The girl, being decorated after the 

 fashion of the Bollier, is seized from 

 behind by an old gin (under whose 

 care she has been), who places her 

 hands upon the novice's shoulders. See 

 fig. 4. Another woman jolaces her 

 hands upon the shoulders of the old 

 gin in a similar manner, and the same 

 thing repeated by the array of females 

 taking part in the function, one stand- 

 ing behind the other 



A chant, a long-drawn, continuous 

 'Ya, Ya, Ya," is commenced; the old 

 gin at this stage, stamping on the 

 ground with her feet, moves forward 

 and pushes the girl m front of her, 

 Fig. 4. while all the other women respond simi- 



larly, and follow in a line. 

 This chant suddenly ceases, and is replaced by another 

 sounding like ''Yen da min," the old gin stopping at this 

 stage and imparting three smart blows upon the girls back. 



* Cf. W. G. Stretton: Trans. Roy. Soc, S.A., vol. xvii., 1893, 

 p. 232. 



t Cf. Foelsche: Trans. Roy. Soc, S.A., vol. y., 1882, p. 17. 

 Tribes inhabiting the western coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 between the Roper and Nicholson Rivers, have a practice of 

 slitting the penis along the urethra : Spencer and Gillen : The 

 Northern Tribes of Central Australia, 1904, p. 133. From the 

 Urabunna in the south, riy^ht through the centre of the continent 

 to the western shores of the Gulf of Cai'pentaria, sub-incision is 

 practised upon the young men. 



: Cf. MacKillop: Trans. Roy. Soc, S.A., vol. xvii, 1893, 

 p. 257. 



