126 R. H. MATHEWS. 
phernalia of enchantment, and instruments of deadly 
potency. EKvery man pulled his beard up into his mouth 
and bit it with savage grimaces. When all the preliminaries 
had been settled, the chosen band, greased and painted for 
the occasion, started forth on their mission. The minor 
details of the expedition are so similar to those of the 
‘Pirrimbir,’ which I have described elsewhere’ that the 
most important portions only need be here touched upon. 
The party travelled on till evening and camped for the 
night, screening their fires so that they could not be seen 
at a distance. arly next morning a tree was marked 
with zig-zag or irregular lines and ovals of the usual native 
pattern, the marks extending from hear the ground, up 
along the bole as high as the men could reach by sitting 
on each others’ shoulders. The marks were chopped into 
the bark with sharpened sticks or chipped stones, or with 
tomahawks. <A gum tree, ora grey-box tree was preferred, 
if available, on account of the smooth bark. EHvery man 
of the contingent took part in marking the tree, in order 
to transfer as much magical influence to it as_ possible, 
until it was, so to speak, surfeited with mischief. Another 
reason for all the men participating in the marking of the 
tree is to strengthen the bond of union amongst them, so 
that none of them can feel any remorse, or give such 
timely warning to the doomed man as would enable him to 
escape. While the work is in progress, some of the prin- 
cipal magicians rub the marks with bullroarers, quartz- 
crystals and human fat to augment the effectiveness of the 
proceedings, and cause dismay in the heart of the enemy. 
When the marking of the tree has been completed, the 
men dance or jump around it, singing ‘Wure bunnungandha 
dumballadha,’ several times in succession. The object 
* This Journal, vol. xxxviml., pp. 289-252. See also photograph of the 
marked tree. 
