NEW SOUTH WALES, 15 



sharp ; a stick is then with great ceremony cut 

 at some distance from the end, and laid on 

 a tree, then three aims are taken before it is 

 struck, when the gum is cut, the operator puts 

 the sharp point of the stick on the tooth, and 

 with a stone in the other hand, *after making- 

 three aims, he hits the stick, and out falls the 

 tooth, generally as perfect as if drawn by a 

 dentist. The lad is then taken away, that the 

 gum may be healed by his friends, who dress 

 him as he must for some time appear; which 

 dress, consists of a girdle a wooden sword, and 

 a ligature round his head ; for that day, he must 

 neither eat or speak, and his left hand must be 

 kept up to his mouth. 



It is deemed honourable to bear this operation 

 without any sign of dissatisfaction, hut for fear 

 all should not have fortitude enough to bear it, 

 the assistants make a great noise. 



It is curious that the sufferer adds to his 

 own name that of the person, on whose shoulders 

 he sits to have the operation performed. 



The ceremony being ended, and the youths 

 all dressed alike, they sit down, and on a sud- 

 den given signal, they rise and rush into 

 the town, which is just by, and drive every- 

 body before them. These are now allowed to 

 use the spear and shield, and accepted as men. 



One good quality these people certainly pos- 

 sess, which is, that if a man and his wife, on 

 any occasion quarrel, no one takes the least 

 notice of it, each present minds his own business 

 without casting even a look, at the wrangling- 



