MURRUMBIDGEE, LOWER LACHLAN, AND LOWER DARLING, 29 
operation is performed as soon as the body becomes rigid, and 
when completed, it is borne to the grave at once. e graves are 
usually about four feet deep, and in every instance bearing east 
and west. In the bottom of the grave a sheet of bark is placed, 
or should bark be difficult to procure, it is thickly strewn with 
grass instead ; the body is then let down with the feet towards 
the east. All the property which belonged to the deceased, such 
as weapons, nets, &c., is laid beside the body; then sticks are 
placed across the grave, the ends of which rest on ledges a few 
inches above the body; over these, and crossing them at right 
angles, sticks the length of the grave are arranged, then bark or a 
good thick covering of grass hides the body from sight and pre- 
vents the earth, which is now filled in, from coming into contact 
therewith. 
camp in twos or 
silently and stolidly for about an hour, after which, they again 
wake up into every day activity, their grief from thenceforth is 
forgotten, unless at the morning and evening intervals of pre- 
seribed mourning. he self-inflicted sores, however, remain long 
unhealed, and no doubt have the effect of keeping their bereave- 
ment fresh and green in their memories. 
Should the person buried have been esteemed of consideration 
prior to death a neat hut is erected over the grave, the covering 
thereof being generally thatch, made of a hard knotty grass, aving 
many joints, probably, therefore, akin to polygonum. is thatch 
is firmly secured to the frame by cord, many hundred yards of 
which are used in the work. 
every instance is exactly in tie centre ; all the grass inside of the 
hee is neatly shaved off, and the ground swept quite clean. It 
