SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT. 43 



All pain is supposed to spring from the same source. 

 The " doctor " sucks the part affected liver, heart, 

 neck, head or other region of pain and presently takes 

 from his mouth bits of wood, two inches long, glass or 

 stones, which he has drawn into his mouth from the 

 seat of pain, and which he asserts have been injected 

 into his patient by some hostile doctor. Jf he fails to 

 effect a cure it is through the more powerful oppos- 

 ing influence of some doctor in a hostile tribe. At 

 least, this excuse quite satisfies the patient or his 

 friends. 



When a death occurs the women weep and lament, 

 and tear the skin off their temples with their nails. 



The parents of the deceased lacerate themselves 

 fearfully, especially if he be an only son. 



The father beats and cuts his head with his toma- 

 hawk, and groans bitterly ; and the mother sits by the 

 fire and burns her breast and abdomen with a fire- 

 stick until she wails with pain. 



The Rev. George Taplin gives the following account 

 of some of their customs : " The Narranyeri, inhabit- 

 ing the lakes of the Lower Murray, believe, when a 

 death occurs, that sorcery has caused it. 



" The nearest relative sleeps with his head on the 

 corpse, and dreams a dream to discover the name of 

 the sorcerer who has caused the death. 



