MURRUMBIDGEE, LOWER LACHLAN, AND LOWER DARLING. 61 
more reduced, till the pile is completely burnt out and darkness 
covers the face of the twungie, when it is ni ht. _During the 
darkness however, Vgondenont has his attendant spirits employed 
of theirs by holding a piece of gypsum in the rays of the sun or 
within the influence of fire-light, and triumphantly ask what better 
proof could be desired. LI: 
According to their computation each moon lasts polite kowp 
murnangin, nga polite kiwp murnangin (three hands an three 
hands) that is thirty fingers, in this case meaning nights. They 
compare the moon to an opossum cloak, after this fashion :— — 
When a native has a rug to make, he does not wait until he 
has acquired sufficient skins to complete it, for as soon as he 
two or three skins he sews them together, and wears them 
mantilla fashion across his shoulders, going on day by day adding 
thereto, but wearing it all the same time until at last it becomes a 
finished cloak. Shortly after the completion of the cloak, or indeed 
frequently before that end has been attained, from the constant 
Wear, as a matter of course it gradually begins to fray at the edges, . 
more especially those skins which were worn mantilla wise at the 
born, retained their virgin purity until the advent of grey i 
_ When Vyondenont with unqualified pleasure saw that these 
be enabled to view the actions of their heretofore sisterhood, and 
_ “It will thus be seen that, although their notions of chastity with regard 
al every-day life are of the very tase the author of this myth had 
‘mmerings (to say the least of it) of better things. 
