14 



The stamping motion, and the ''Ztt, Ya, Ya," are com- 

 menced afresh, to be again changed to ''Yen da nun'' and three 

 blows on the girl's back. This procedure is kept up for 

 the greater part of the night. 



At the first glimpse of day the second item in the pro- 

 gramme is started ; it consists of the washing of the girl in 

 the sea." She is led to the water, and all taking part in the 

 ceremony wade out with her to some depth. On gaining 

 deeper water the whole party go through a grotesque ' 'goose- 

 waddle-like" dance, flapping their arms, which are kept bent 

 at the elbows, alternately at either side, and, in so doing, 

 splashing the water up over their bodies with the production 

 of a peculiar hollow-sounding noise. 



Another refrain is now chanted : "A-lo-Io-Io,'' and when 

 the last syllable has sounded all the bathers dip under the 

 surface of the water, the same thing being repeated many 

 times. 



The third part of the programme, following directly 

 upon the washing, is the smoking of the young gin. A fire 

 is made on shore, and when a good blaze has been secured, 

 a large heap of green grass and leaves, previously 

 steeped in water, is piled upon it. On this the 

 old gin seats herself, and on her lap, with legs astride, 

 the young gin. More grass and leaves are piled on the 

 heap, and the vast volumes of smoke that are generated com- 

 pletely hide both women from view. The object is that 

 the smoke shall thoroughly play upon the genitalia of the 

 girl, the process being facilitated by the manipulation of the 

 old gin upon whose lap she is seated. This event finished, 

 the principal ceremony of initiation is concluded, and the 

 novice is led into the bush by the old women, returning with 

 them to camp the same day. Through the period the girl's 

 diet is restricted during the pleasure of the old gin. She is 

 not allowed to eat snake, dugong, monitor (Varanus sp.J, 

 turtle, etc., but may have crab. 



No cohabitation takes place between the young gin and 

 her husband for about four months after her initiation, but 

 at each recurrence of the menses she cleanses herself with 

 water, without repetition of any ceremony. The man must 

 not receive food from her during these periods, as otherwise 

 he would become subject to severe pains in the stomach, and 

 become readily susceptible to injury. If, for instance, in 

 their excursions hostile blacks were encountered, he would 



* It is interesting to note a similarity of these proceedings 

 recorded from the western islands of North Australia : Reports 

 Cambridge Anthropological Expedition. Torreis Straits, vol. v., 

 1904, chap, vi., pp. 201 et seq. 



