12 JOHN TEASER, B.A., LL.D. 



Kushite race at first, but now little understood, but yet 

 superstitiously observed, by their Australian descendants. 



Accordingly I now proceed to what I regard as the roost 

 important part of this inquiry, for I shall attempt to show 

 that in many respects the Bora corresponds with the reli- 

 gious beliefs and practices of the ancient world. If we 

 can prove that the germ ideas which underlie the Australian 

 Bora as it has always been celebrated among the aborigines 

 are the same as those in many religions of antiquity, and that 

 these same ideas present themselves in ceremonies of similar 

 import among nations now widely separated in place, I think 

 we have established a strong presumption that there is a 

 common source from which all these things have sprung, 

 and that there is a community of origin on which this com- 

 munity of belief is founded. 



And here I wish to enlist the sympathy and assistance of 

 this intelligent audience. There are among you many who 

 have a full and accurate knowledge of the religious systems of 

 Africa and India, and who can therefore give valuable aid in 

 tracing analogies sufficient to build up my argument to the 

 dimensions of substantial proof. I ask these gentlemen to 

 assist me, either now by oral remarks, or afterwards in any 

 form which they may prefer. My present theme is a small 

 contribution to an argument for the unity of the human race 

 as to its origin, and while I work in the Australian field, 

 which is as yet little known, I shall gratefully receive any 

 help which may come from fields that have been long 

 explored. 



I now offer to you such analogies as my limited knowledge 

 permits me to refer to : 



(A.) In the Bora there are two circles, the one is less 

 sacred, fqr the women may be present there, although only on 

 the outskirts; in it certain preparatory things are done in 

 order to bring the " booinbat's " mind into a fit state of 

 reverential awe for the reception of the teaching in the other 

 circle, the adytum, the penetralia, where the images of the 

 gods are to be seen ; the women and the uninitiated must noi, 

 approach this inner circle, for it is thrice holy ; " Procul este. 

 profani." 



(a.) In the earliest religions, the circle is the invariable 

 symbol of the sun the bright and pure one, from whose 

 presence darkness and every evil thing must flee away. Thus 

 we have the disc as the symbol of the sun-god in Egypt, 

 Chaldsea, Assyria, Persia, India, China. This fact is so well 

 known that it is needless to multiply examples. Those who 

 are within the circle are safe from the powers of evil. The 



