206 THE ABORIGINES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
the women, who are permitted to be present at the opening cere 
mony only, are lying on the ground all round the larger ring with 
their faces covered. The boy* is brought forward, made to lie down 
roaring sound is supposed to be the voice of a dreaded evil spirit, 
who prowls about the camp, especially at night, and corres © 
tears, and devours those he can seize. The Kamilaroi tribe call him 
the Krooben. When the performers think that the boombat (s0 
ceases to speak ; they then raise the boy from the ground and pss 
him in the ring so that his face is turned towards the cl 
over ; then an old man comes forward, breathes strongly in ade 
and makes him cast his eyes upon the ground, for in this hum 
attitude he must continue for some days. , 
' _ Two other old men next take the boy by the arms, and lead him 
1 d set him in the middle of It 
while the boy has been sitting in the smaller circle wi 
eyes ; he is told to rise and is led to the foot of each of ~ + the 
trees in succession, and is made to look up for a momen . 
carvings on them, and while he does so the old men raise 4 
Mien Mieie etn rare | 
ae 
* For convenience, I speak of the boy in the singular number, but oe 
are usually several boys initiated at once. turndan 
+ This instrument is variously named by different tribes: as ucko= 
Victoria), and in N.S, Wales wundaba, or goonunganiga, or goon ee 
stercus humanum edens, 2 dayne 
+I had one of these “ roarers” made and sounded it the ota exclaim i 
presence of a blackfellow who visits me. He shrunk from it ee 
“Bail (no) me like that.” e Murring (tO 
a 
§ The mo for 
the Shoalhaven River to Cape Howe) ; the Yuin is a sab-tribe. 
