44 AUSTRALIA^ AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



"When the body is being carried to the grave the 

 male members of the tribe gather around it, and keep- 

 ing their eyes intently upon it, they call out the names 

 of those they think may have practised the sorcery. 

 If it moves when a name is mentioned, then they 

 know on whom to be avenged. As a rule the body 

 does not move (in imagination) until the dreamer men- 

 tions the name of the person whom he saw in his 

 dream. The tribe is of course satisfied that the mur- 

 derer is discovered. 



" The bearers immediately begin running as if mad, 

 pretending that the corpse has moved itself, and there 

 are increased signs of deepest mourning. If the sup- 

 posed one should come to the lamentation the dreamer 

 watches him closely, and if he does not shed tears he 

 is the more convinced of his guilt, and considers it 

 now his duty to avenge his relative's death. If the 

 suspected one should happen to be of their own 

 nation a difficulty arises. 



"They may not desire to kill the sorcerer. Negotia- 

 tions result in the injured family or tribe formally curs- 

 ing the slayer of their friend and all his relations. If 

 this is done arrangements are at once made for a fight. 

 The mourning tribe commence to weep and lament as 

 soon as they see their foes. The latter mock and 

 deride them, and some of them dance wild dances, 



