32 
across their abdomens and one additional band on either thigh 
(one individual had three bands across his right thigh). By this 
time all the females were kneeling at the nearer set of fires, and 
began beating their hands in regular time. This they did by 
seizing the wrist of one arm with the hand of the other, and 
causing the palm of the grasped hand to strike over the 
region between the upper part of their thighs, which were 
pressed closely together.* Tbis produces the dull but effective 
note which accompanies the  monotonous singing of such 
ceremonies. The songs were introduced by the following verse :— 
Immandale sheri sheri ”mandale, 
the same words being continuously repeated time after time 
with the same monotonous tune. The men, on the other hand, 
had seated themselves in a row between the further two fires, 
with their legs drawn up and crossed in front of their bodies. 
With a stern countenance they moved their heads from side to 
side, keeping time in so doing with the song of the lubras, but 
uttered not a word. Suddenly and simultaneously they jumped 
up, and, smiting the left hand at regular intervals with a small 
bundle of grass and flowers held in their right, they began 
stamping slowly towards the females; the beating of the latter, 
the clapping of the hands and the stamping of the men all being 
performed in time and accompanied by a slight grunt on the 
part of the men. In this manner they proceeded right up to the 
gins, and then with a vigorous final beat of the hands they 
turned short and quickly walked back to the further fires to 
start the stamping and beating towards the gins afresh. The 
same proceedings were repeated over and over again. Strict 
seriousness was maintained during the time that the men were 
stamping, but when they had reached the lubras and were 
retiring to the further fires yells and laughter accompanied their 
actions. Other songs which were later resorted to are :— 
Elunmä allaitcheri shöri 
Binndipeyndö ngannyéparlé binndipeyndé ngannyéparlé 
Inbanà marrukurrilbä äni 
Pulleyinà urarillbillåware 
Ngunnyiparlé awönnaparle 'wónnaparle 
Wanäpare larrindi ngunderi wunnderil. 
A boy, about sixteen years of age, who had not yet been 
initiated was kept isolated from the camp, while a younger boy, 
about eleven years old, was permitted to take part in the 
proceedings. After the lapse of some little time the white men 
were asked to join in the stamping with the blacks, and general 
satisfaction was shown upon fulfilling their wish. This no doubt 
* Compare E. C. Stirling: Anthrop., Horn Exped., page 74. 
