184 Manner's and Customs of the Australian Natives, 



with tlie " pullakalli/^ an instrument resembling the 

 '' witarna/^ but smaller in size. Two or three months after 

 this ceremony^ the lad has to paint his face black, dares not 

 speak aloud_, but must express in whispers all his wishes and 

 wants. Any infringement of these laws subjects them to 

 severe reprimands from their seniors, and even more talking 

 than is aljsolutely necessary is considered highly reproachable. 



A feAV years after this first ceremony the young men 

 advance to the second degree, when they are called Pardnapas, 

 and have to undergo the operation of circumcision. Mr. 

 Edward John Eyre, the well-known explorer, mentions this 

 strange custom in vol. I. p. 213 as follows : — "This extraor- 

 dinary and inexplicable custom must have a great tendency 

 to prevent the rapid increase of the population; and its 

 adoption may perhaps be a wise ordination of Providence for 

 that purpose, in a country of so desert and arid a character 

 as that which these people occupy." The hair, which while 

 the lad was a Warrara in the first degree had been allowed 

 to grow, is then plaited in a coil, and in the shape of a plate 

 fastened on the crown of the head in a net made of the spun 

 hair of the opossum ; his penis is also covered with a kind of 

 fringe or tassel made of the same material. These sacred 

 marks of distinction are worn for several months ; and after 

 removal of the net the hair is not cropped, but made to 

 hang down in curls. During this period, without any 

 peculiar ceremony, the operation of the painful mutilating 

 circumcision is performed, the particular object of Avliich Mr. 

 Schurmann has never been able to ascertain ; the blacks 

 themselves cannot assign any other reason for it, but that 

 their forefathers had observed the custom, and that they 

 must do the same. To the women and children they pretend 

 that " Midhalla," an imaginary being, and said to be inhabit- 

 ing some island, is the cause of this cruel mutilation. 



The last and most important ceremony takes place at the 

 age of 18 or 20 years, after which the young men are called 

 *' Wilyalkinyes." Mr. Schurmann having twice had the 

 opportunity of witnessing its performance, is thereby enabled 

 to give a detailed description of it. 



As an introductory step for the grand festivity, the so- 

 called " Indanyanas," a kind of sponsors, are chosen, their 

 duty being to carry out the old established custom relating 

 thereto. Some one clasps his arms, from behind, around the 

 sponsor whom they have fixed upon, and draws him backwards 

 on his lap, after which otliers collect around him, urging him to 



