22 
The nasal-septum is pierced in the case of either sex. This 
operation in certain cases takes place at the age of about 18 or 
19 years. After the puncture, a rod of mulga, sometimes referred 
to as a “ nose-stick," and in this region known as “ delonngu,” is 
inserted and shifted from time to time to prevent the hole from 
closing, and on special occasions the rod is replaced by a bone. 
The “ nose stick ” is not worn daily, but very often a native may 
be observed to pick a small green twig from a bush and wear i6 
in the place of the former. 
The custom of knocking out either one or two incisors was 
noticed to be generally practised. The most common tooth that 
was removed appeared to be the right upper lateral incisor ; some 
times the corresponding tooth on the left side, and at times 
both teeth had been removed. 
When a boy attains the age of about 16 years the operation of 
circumcision (“ delldinge ”) is performed upon him. About this 
ceremony as practised by these tribes I was able to gather 
a little information from the natives, which, if their account may 
be relied upon, is as follows :— The boy is for some time prior to 
the operation kept apart from the main camp and tended by an 
old man. On the evening of the event, which no women or 
children are allowed to witness, he is brought to the side of the 
fires that have been kindled on the selected ground, when an old 
native, usually the father of the gin who is to be the future 
property of the boy, rushes upon the scene. This man, making 
hideous grimaces, with his beard upturned and held between his 
white teeth* and rolling his eyes in a fierce-looking manner, 
advances towards the lad, holding in his face the sacred 
* wanningi" f which up till that time the boy has not been 
allowed to see. The sight of the “ wanningi" may therefore be 
considered an introduction to manhood. The boy, having been 
thrown upon his back, is held down to the ground by other men 
of the tribe, who securely clasp him by legs, arms, and head 
while the act of eircumeision is performed upon him by the 
fierce-looking man with a sharp flint splinter. When the 
prepuce has been detached the operator holds it between his 
fingers in front of the blaze for a short time, then (according to 
the description given by the natives) quickly swallows 15.1 
The ceremony is accompanied by monotonous songs, the words of 
which were supplied me by a native of the Karkurrerra Tribe :— 
* Compare E. C. Stirling : op. cit., p. 172, “ The beards being pushed 
between the teeth.” 
+ This “ wanningi” appears to be precisely the equivalent of the waningas 
described on pages 230 and 231 of Spencer and Gillen's “ The Native 
Tribes of Central Australia." For a description of this ceremonial object, 
see page 28., and Plate III., fig. 4. 
i See also E. C. Stirling : op. cit., page 172. 
