AMUSEMENTS. 83 



remains thus for a few seconds, and, turning round suddenly, disappears in the 

 darkness with a rustling sound. Another dancer takes his place, and goes 

 through the same movements, and disappears in the same way. Then two or 

 three come forward, and dance in a line, and disappear in the darkness. At 

 length all the dancers are seen in a row, quivering and making a great rustling in 

 time to the music, and advancing nearer and nearer to the tire until they come 

 quite close, when a simultaneous loud groan is suddenly given, and the dance is 

 over. The bright light of the fire shining on the white stripes of the dancers 

 against a pitch-dark background, produces a very striking effect. The difierent 

 tribes dance by tui'ns ; they never mingle. 



The interludes between the dances are filled up by the buffoonery and 

 jesting of one or two clowns, called ' chipperuuks,' chosen for their powers of 

 humour, ready wit, and repartee. These clowns do not perform altogether 

 voluntarily, owing to the manner in which they are treated previous to the 

 korroborse. They are caught by the orders of the chiefs, and are compelled to 

 live apart in a separate wuurn, without any covering to keep out the cold, but 

 are supplied with plenty of food. The hair of the chipperuuk is cropped off both 

 sides of his head, which are plastered with white clay, leaving a crest of haii- 

 along the ridge like the hog-mane of a horse. A stripe of white paint extends 

 from the top of the brow down the nose, mouth, chin, and neck to the waist ; and 

 the same behind, from the crown of the head down the spine ; another stripe 

 extends down the inside of each leg, terminating in an arrow-point above the 

 ankles. The arms are encircled with three white stripes between the .shoulder 

 and wrist. He wears the usual apron and the tail of emu feathers. The 

 chipperuuk enters the circle between the dances, and amuses the people with 

 jokes, and with ludicrous movements in imitation of the gambols of emus, native 

 companions, and other animals. Sometimes he puts on a mask formed of a 

 kangaroo pouch, painted white, and having holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. 

 These are pulled over the head and face, and are often used to frighten children 

 when they misbehave. After the amusements are finished, the chipperuuks visit 

 each wuurn, with a bark torch, and a basket to receive presents of food, which 

 are liberally bestowed. 



It is now almost impossible to ascertain whether or not the korroborses held 

 among the tribes referred to, previous to the advent of the Europeans, were 

 attended with indecencies ; but the aborigines now alive — and many of them 

 are very truthful and intelligent— declare that there was nothing indecent 



