208 THE ABORIGINES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
exhibited at the Bora, and that the sight of it inspires the initiated 
with manhood. This sacred wand was the gift of Baiamai. The 
ground on which the Bora is celebrated is Baiamai’s ground. Billy 
believes the Bora will be kept up always all over the country,— 
such was the command of Batamai.” aa 
These formalities being completed, the boombat’s probation 8 
at anend. They now proceed, all of them together, to some large 
water-hole, and jumping in, men and boy, they wash off the colour- 
ing matter from their bodies, amid much glee and noisy merriment; 
when they have come out of the water they paint themselves 
Ww 
Meanwhile the women, who have been called to resume their 
attendance, have kindled a large fire not far off, and are 
around it with their faces covered as before ; the two old men who 
were the first initiators bring the boy at a run towards fire, 
lowed by all the others, with voices silent but making @ noise by 
beating their boomerangs together; the men join hands and foams 
ring round the fire, and one old man runs round the inside of the ring 
ting a heelaman or shield. A woman, usually the boy’ — 
mother, then steps within the ring, and, catching mary 
arms, lifts him from the ground once, sets him down, and then 
retires ; everybody, the boy included, now jumps upon the decayi"s 
red embers, until the fire is extinguished. : 
Thus ends the Bora, for the youth is now a man ; he gers 
ber of the tribe, undertakes all the duties of membership, ‘ime 
a right to all its privileges, but may not take a wife for some oil 
a ; the restrictions as to food, however, are now removed, 
€ may eat anything he can find. : a 
Although : aoe the formalities observed 0 admitting 
youth into the tribe, yet in the Bora, as in Freemasonry, 
novice does not become a full member all at once, =< 
through several grades, and these are obtained by @ oa 
of Boras; thus the process of qualifying for full mem 
may extend over two or three years. In his tender years the bef 
has been taught that he must eat only the female of the ware? be 3 
or bandicoot, or other animals ; all others that pang pave 
brought to the camp and given to the a seas 
large families ; shh: he a attended one Bora he recs 
mission to eat the male, say, of the paddymelon ; a = 
Bora he may eat the “sugar-bag,” that is, the honey," aad 
bee ; a step higher and he may eat the male of the ‘and then BP : 
so on until his initiation and instruction are complete ee 
may eat anything.* — 
mi 
* a i Mi . * “7 +. ¢hoee rules. 
travelling 02 the 4 
occasion, perhaps forty years ago, a dray was me “said? 3 
Nortinorn Road, and ax te driver was rather short of provisions} ; 
his black boy, “Georgie, go and catch an opossum; ©” 
