54 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINMS. 



much the natives may be in want of a firestick in travelling through the bush, 

 they will not take a light from a strange fire unless they observe the footprints 

 of human beings near it, indicating that it has been kindled by man. Neither 

 will they take a light from a funeral pyre. 



There is a tradition that fire, such as could be safely used, belonged 

 exclusively to the crows inhabiting the Grampian Mountains ; and, as these 

 crows considered it of great value, they would not allow any other animal to get 

 a light. However, a little bird called Yuuloin keear — ' fire-tail wien' — observing 

 the crows amusing themselves by throwing firesticks about, picked up one, and 

 flew away with it. A hawk called Tarrakukk took the firestick from the wren, 

 and set the whole country on fire. From that time there have always been fires 

 from which lights could be obtained. 



There is a superstition, called Wuurong, connected with the tracking and 

 killing of kangaroos. In hot weather a doctor, or other person possessed of 

 supernatural powers, looks for the footprints of a large kangaroo. On finding 

 them he follows them up, putting hot embers on them, and continues the quest for 

 two days, or until he tracks it to a water-hole, where he spears it. He then pre- 

 sents portions of the body to his nearest neighbours, and takes the head home to 

 his own wuurn. There seems to be no special meaning attached to this custom. 



The aborigines believe that if an enemy get possession of anything that has 

 belonged to them — even such things as bones of animals which they have eaten, 

 broken weapons, feathers, portions of dress, pieces of skin, or refuse of any kind — 

 he can employ it as a charm to produce illness in the person to whom they belonged. 

 They are, therefore, very careful to burn up all rubbish or uncleanness before leaving 

 a camping-place. Should anything belonging to an unfriendly tribe be found at 

 any time, it is given to the chief, who preserves it as a means of injuring the 

 enemy. This wuulon, as it is called, is lent to any one of the tribe who wishes 

 to vent his spite against any one belonging to the imfriendly tribe. When used 

 as a charm, the wuulon is rubbed over with emu fat mixed with red clay, and 

 tied to the point of a spear-thrower, which is stuck upright in the ground before 

 the camp fire. The company sit round watching it, but at such a distance that 

 their shadows cannot fall on it. They keep chanting imprecations on the enemy 

 till the spear-thrower, as they say, turns round and falls down in the direction 

 of the tribe the wuulon belongs to. Hot ashes are then thrown in the same 

 direction, with hissing and curses, and wishes that disease and misfortune may 

 overtake their enemy. 



