in particular of the Port Lincoln District. 183 



The names of common blacks, when dead, arc not men- 

 tioned for a considerable time, but in the case of Maltalla,^ 

 and probably all mintapas, they make an exception of this 

 rule. 



The dignity of mintapa seem to be hereditary, for, as the 

 })lacks used to say, Maltalla's eldest son, although he had 

 not then given any proofs of his aptitude for the office, would 

 assume the functions of a mintapa. 



Among the blacks in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Port Lincoln there are few of these sorcerers, but among the 

 savage Kukata tribes they are said to be numerous. 



The natives show strong feelings of commisseration in cases 

 of illness, the women particularly so, who, under an abun- 

 dance of tears, prove their interest and attention by frequently 

 rubbing and pressing the affected parts ; but the sick them- 

 selves, in desperate cases even, submit to their sufferings with 

 a surprising stoicism and resignation. 



A very peculiar circumstance, not to be met with perhaps 

 in any other uncivilized community, is that these natives have 

 no chief or individual of acknowledged authority among them. 

 All the adult men are quite equal one to the other, a fact so 

 well understood among them, that no one would ever presume 

 to adopt a tone of command to another one, but, by asking 

 and persuasion only, tries to obtain what he wants. The 

 young people, however, show great respect towards the old 

 ones, a tribute to advanced age or to greater experience per- 

 haps ; but this, no doubt, is increased and preserved by a 

 superstitious and dreadful horror of certain secret rites known 

 to the grown-up men only, into the knowledge of which the 

 young lads are initiated by degrees. 



The three degrees which they have to pass through, con- 

 stitute three distinct epochs in their lives ; during the interval 

 between the rise from one degree to the other, the name of 

 that particular degree last attained serves them for their 

 ^sual name. 



At the age of 14 or 15 years they enter the first degree, 

 which procures them the distinguished name of Warrara. 



Mr. Schurmann has never witnessed the performance of 

 these ceremonies, as the natives, apprehensive lest these secrets 

 might be communicated to their wives and children, do not 

 admit any strangers at them, but he has been told a 

 description of it; while closing the eyes of the lads, 

 they pronounce certain mysterious formulas, calling 

 out ^^ Herri, lierri, herri/' and making a rattling noise 



