277 



Gndmeni live to tlie east of Salt Creek, and join the Wonkon- 

 gniiru and Diyeri tribes. The 



Yandruwuntha territory joins that of the Diyeri tribe at Lake 

 Hope, and goes south as far as Strzelecki. The 



Wnngaranda joins the Wungarabunna and Andijirigna tribes. 



FUUNAFA AND YEEUPA. 



Circumcision and subincision are practised by the following 

 tribes, viz., Wungara-bunna, Diyeri, Knkatha, Wonkongniiru, 

 Gnameni, Yandruwuntha, Kuyanni, Wungaranda, Andijirigna, 

 and the tribes near the Barrier Range, and probably also on the 

 Murray. With all tliese tribes the Pudnapa and Yerupa is com- 

 pulsory, and in cases where young fellows have been brought up 

 with whites they have been taken by force foi- the purpose of 

 having those rites performed iipon them. 



On the Diamantina lives a tribe that circumcises, but does not 

 subincise. Weaver lived for some time amongst them. 



Pudnapa is the name given by the Wungarabunna to the rite 

 of circumcision, and Yerupa to subincision. Both these rites are 

 performed in secret, and with the strictest exclusion, of the 

 women. The operation is performed by some old men, chosen for 

 the purpose, with a sharp stone, which is afterwards buried^ Any 

 other thing but a sharp stone is considered poisonous. Weaver 

 tells me t'hat he has been present at two of these ceremonies, 

 although the blacks will scarcely considei' him one of their own. 

 He is certain that no ^vhite man would be allowed to witness 

 these rites under any consideration. The last he witnessed was 

 performed a few years ago not far from Warrina, at the N"orth 

 Creek. A corroboree was kept up for about a week before the 

 operation was performed. During the forenoon the men had their 

 dances, &c., and at night the women also. Previous to the rite, 

 the women were all driven out of the camp. The young man 

 was laid on the ground and his arms and legs held, whilst the old 

 men performed the operation with a sharp stone. This being 

 done, a signal fire was lit to announce that all was over, and then 

 the resumption of the corroboree finished the ceremony. After 

 the incision some opossum hair is placed in the wound, which is 

 then allowed to heal. This process takes some time. The patient 

 is removed out of sight of the women, and has to keep away from 

 the camp until he gets well. Food is procured for him during 

 this time by someone who is told ofl" for the purpose, but who i? 

 relieved from time to time. 



These ceremonies are called Wilyuru, which signifies the eleva- 

 tion of the youtli into manhood, and are generally performed 

 between the 14th and 16th year, and, in cases where the youth 

 may liave worked for some white men, at a later age. 



