in particular of the Port Lincoln District. 195 



two, or at most three lines, of one such songs the following is 

 a specimen : — 



La pirra inirrfma. lyura tyurra tymraru 

 lylndo Katntyfila. Palta, palta ixaltami 

 Kauwirril wirrfma. Niuna kutyu n^'^ang-kali. 



In tlic singing of this and other songs of the same kind, each 

 verse is repeated twice, and when the last line is finished 

 they begin again at the first. They do not seem to give much 

 attention to the meaning of the words, so long as the neces- 

 sary measure and the proper number of the accented syllables 

 arc observed. The greater number of these kind of songs 

 would seem to belong to other far removed tribes, for they 

 arc not acquainted with the meaning of any of the words, nor 

 do they think it worth while to make any investigation, re- 

 garding them. Every question as to the origin of such verses 

 or words is replied to by the convenient and simple answer 

 that it is a kuri, or song. Their songs are in different mea- 

 sures, some being slow and serious, others quick and lively. 

 These songs, however, do not offend the ear, but they are 

 monotonous, and require that the voice should be raised and 

 lowered -with regularity. The natives are exceedingly accu- 

 rate as regards the time, and, to prevent any mistake in this 

 respect, they beat the time with their clubs. The end of the 

 song is indicated by singing the last line in a Ioav tone, sink- 

 ing the voice gradually so that the last note is scarcely audible. 

 The aborigines generally choose the mild summer evenings 

 for their dancing. If there should be a moon, so much the bet- 

 ter ; 1)ut should her silver light be Avanting, they make up for it 

 by bright burning fires. Any one Avishing to take part in the 

 dauce adorns himself beforehand in the following manner. 

 From each shoulder are drawn two Avhite parallel lines down 

 to the Avaist, in such a manner hoAvever that the four lines 

 meet at the Avaist. They paint a Avhite ring round each eye, 

 a broad stripe doAvn the nose, and about six or eight whitish 

 lines, tAvo and tAvo, on the upper part of the arm ; and, to put 

 the finishing touch to their ball costume, they bind a tuft of 

 green leaves round the legs above the knee. Should they be 

 possessors of Avhite birds' doAvu, they make a Avreath to go 

 round the head, beginning at one ear and encircling the broAV, 

 close to the roots of the hair, to the other ear, so that it has 

 some slight resemblance to a lady's nightcap. They have 

 diiicrent kinds of dances, but the favorite and most practised 

 pousists in a number of jumps from side to side, and also for- 



o2 



