290 



eiice is one of tlie traits of a black's character. After a little 

 ■while the following song is chanted, in which all assembled join : — 



Bibba (breast) win wiiio (?) 

 f4nalyora (anus) win wino, 



Ylri (semen), 



Binnana (?), 



Gumbulba (urine). 

 Gnara (?) yaul yauilo (?), 

 Gumbu (urine) yaul yauilo, 

 Matta (leg) ward wardu (?), 

 Yiuna (foot) ward wardu. 



Urr ! ! Urr ! ! Urr ! ! 



The finish of this song is an emphatic grunt-like exclamation,. 

 which is generally the finish of most of the songs in use at all 

 their corroborees. The translation of the words that are queried 

 could not be obtained by Mr. Paterson, although he tried several 

 times to do so. The meaning of the song is, however, not diffi- 

 cult to understand ; all the parts mentioned have become one in 

 both as a pledge of friendship. 



In many of their songs words are made more expressive and 

 phonetic by affixes or abbreviations. In this instance. Gum 

 bulba for Gumbu. 



WILD-MAN CORROBOREK. 



The preparation for this remarkable corroboree often requires 

 a whole fortnight, and is done in the most secret manner. None 

 of the old men or any of the women are supposed to see those 

 engaged in the preparation during this time, and should a woman 

 accidentally or designedly come amongst them, she is ravished by 

 all the men in the most unmerciful manner. The get up for this 

 corroboree consists of a complete enclosure of the body in small 

 branches and twigs, so that not a single portion of any of the 

 limbs remains visible, and even their form is hidden. To accom- 

 plish this the blackfellows use a large quantity of chuat (string 

 made of human or opossum hair), which is wound round the head 

 and body in all directions, behind which the twigs are pushed, 

 and carefully arranged, so that the string is completely con- 

 cealed. 



Like every other masquerade, these corroborees aim at giving 

 surprise, and exciting admiration, and as the blacks are very vain, 

 and ambitious not to be outdone, they bestow the greatest care 

 upon these decorations, that they may be spoken of for a long 

 time. The dance and show last only from ten to fifteen minutes, 

 and then the covering comes down, that has taken probably as 

 many days of mysterious preparation, and is entirely discarded. 



PUNISHMENT FOE ADULTERY. 



Although sexual connection is freely indulged in when per- 

 mitted by the owner of the woman, clandestine intercourse is 



