SUPERSTITIONS AND DISEASES. 49 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



SUPERSTITIONS AND DISEASES. 



In investigating the superstitions of the aborigines, every care has been taken 

 to exclude any superstitious notions which might have been impressed on their 

 minds since they came in contact with the white race ; and those from whom 

 information was obtained were fully aware of the necessity of adhering strictly 

 to the beliefs they entertained before they knew of the existence of Europeans. 



It was ascertained that they believe in supernatural beings — celestial, 

 infernal, and terrestrial. 



The good spirit, Pirnmeheeal, is a gigantic man, living above the clouds ; 

 and as he is of a kindly disposition, and harms no one, he is seldom mentioned, 

 but always with respect. His voice, the thunder, is listened to with pleasure, as 

 it does good to man and beast, by bi-inging rain, and making grass and roots 

 grow for their benefit. But the aborigines say that the missionaries and 

 government protectors have given them a dread of Pirnmeheeal ; and they are 

 sorry that the young people, and many of the old, are now afraid of a being who 

 never did any harm to their forefathers. 



The bad spirit, Muuruup, sometimes called ' Wambeen neung been-been aa,' 

 ' maker of bad-smelling smoke,' is always spoken of with fear and bated breath, 

 as the author of every misfortune. He visits the earth in the form of lightning, 

 knocking trees to pieces, setting fire to wuurns, and killing people by ' striking 

 them on the back.' At times he assumes the form of a large ugly man, 

 frequenting scrubs and dense thickets ; and, although not provided with wings, 

 like the white man's devil, he flits and darts from place to place with the 

 rapidity of lightning, is very mischievous, and hungers for the flesh of children. 

 The natives are not much afraid of Muuruup in the daylight, but have a great 

 dread of him in the dark. They say that he employs the owls to watch and 

 give notice when he may pounce upon any unfortunate straggler from the camp. 

 Hence their hatred of owls, as birds of evil omen. When one of these birds is 

 heard screching or hooting, the children immediately crawl under their grass 

 mats. If children are troublesome at any time, they are hushed by their mother 



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