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throw their spears into the air in all directions, accompanied by 

 great contortions of the body, in order to hunt erinja away. 



The comets they consider are big men prognosticating ruin and 

 death ; these they bind by spells to one spot, so that they cannot 

 get away, but must finally die. 



When the Magellanic clouds are visible in the sky, they speak 

 with a subdued voice, or not at all, for they are the poison-fangs 

 of a gigantic snake. This is in order that the latter may not per- 

 ceive them, else they might be seen, bitten, and die. 



Even the whirlwinds are caused by the devil as he rushes 

 through the air, and thereby stirs up the dirt, but they use no 

 spells against them. 



The innocent morning and evening stars are said to point out 

 to the old men and sorcerers whom they are to bewitch. 



Monc/ahar7'a are the souls of living people wandering about at 

 night, seeking to withdraw the fat from the body of others, and 

 to devour it. The mind of the natives being full of such thoughts, 

 they frequently dream of them, and some pretend to have even 

 seen such onongaharra. One native told us one morning a monga- 

 harra had taken the soul of his granddaughter, but he had run 

 after it, and recovered it again ! 



If it rains too long the old natives shout out their spells, and 

 strike against the rain with their sticks to compel it to stop. 



To the albeta—s, tuft of tails of the marsupial rats which they 

 w^ear upon the head — the old men ascribe the property of charm- 

 ing the boys so as to induce them to demand to be circumcised 

 and be made men {atua). No doubt the magic force lies really in 

 the open contempt shown towards these boys until they have been 

 operated upon. 



