256 SOCIAL EVOLUTION 



stand in the open with no protection over his head other 

 than his shield.' 59 



Magical ceremonies are an important part of the insti- 

 tution of totemism in Australia. Among the Aranda, the 

 main part of the intichiuma ceremonies consists of a 

 series of magical rites supposed to further the increase 

 of the totem animal. The kangaroo totem intichiuma is 

 quite spectacular. The ceremony is performed at a spot 

 where in the dickering a many kangaroo animals went 

 into the ground. The rock ledge is decorated with red 

 ocher and powdered gypsum in alternate vertical lines 

 about a foot in width to represent the red fur and the 

 white bones of the kangaroo. 40 Men of opposite phratries 

 do this painting; the painting of the left side being done 

 by the Panunga and the Bulthara men, and that of the 

 right by the Purula and Kumara men. These men then 

 sit by phratries on the sides they have respectively 

 painted. "They open the veins in their arms, and allow 

 the blood to spurtle out over the edge of the ceremonial 

 stone on the top of which they are seated. While this 

 is taking place, the men below sit still, watching the per- 

 formers, and singing chants referring to the increase of 

 the numbers of 'the kangaroos which the ceremony is 

 supposed to insure." 41 The pouring out of the blood of 

 kangaroo men upon the rocks drives out in all directions 

 the spirits of the kangaroo animals and the number of 

 kangaroo is increased. 42 



Sections of the territory frequented by the Aranda are 

 dotted with totem centers. Alcheringa ancestors are 



3 Spencer and Gillen, The Native Tribes, etc., p. 166. 

 40/&M., p. 201. 



*i Strehlow, C. Die Aranda und Loritja-Stamme in Zentral-Australien, 

 vol. i, pt. II, 1908, p. 59. 



*2 Spencer and Gillen, op. cit., p. 206. 



