"ISTAR RUN ABOUT" 179 



several evenings gazing with expectation into the sky. 

 A meteor flashed across it, and it was hailed as a sign 

 that Caesar was alive and had gone to his own country. 

 The contrary evidence of relics of the dead was waved 

 away before the imperious and disinterested testimony 

 of the falling star. "No matter. That fella him no 

 dead finish. Him walk about 'nother country. Him 

 good fella. That fella star run about bin tell 'em." 



They felt themselves to have benefited materially 

 and spiritually by participation in the rite, and were 

 calm in their belief that the victim was none the worse 

 for the temporary misfortune from which he suffered. 



In another locality a meteor signifies the death of 

 an individual, and is referred to as "Tee-go-binah." 

 When a death cannot be directly attributed to it locally, 

 the phenomenon is referred to with such rustic logic 

 as this: "Some fella dead alonga 'nother camp. Might 

 be longa way." The ancients felt "the sweet influences 

 of the Pleiades." One of the two intimacies of the 

 blacks of North Queensland with stellar phenomena 

 which has come to my knowledge is associated with 

 reincarnation after a deed of blood. Their faith is 

 as absolute, perhaps, as was that of the men of old. 



