270 R. H. MATSEWS. 



branded on the right breast in a corresponding position, 

 which enables him to eat the female and half-grown carpet 

 snakes. 



After a while the man is released from the prohibition 

 regarding the flesh of the male wandaiela or porcupine, 

 which is made known to whom it may concern by vertical 

 incisions on the left breast, between the carpet snake 

 mumbir and the nipple. For the female or half-grown 

 wandaiela, he is similarly marked on the right breast. 



Another interval elapses and the graduate is permitted 

 to eat the male of the gudamang or turtle, which is denoted 

 by a transverse or horizontal scar across the breast between 

 the nipples ; and for the female turtle another horizontal 

 scar is made below the former, in the intermammary region. 



When the graduate is admitted into the rank of eating 

 the carpet snake and the porcupine, the old men chant all 

 night, and the people keep awake, the same as at the emu 

 ceremony already detailed. At all these gatherings there 

 is a good deal of sexual license allowed, such as men lend- 

 ing their wives to visitors, similar to what I have elsewhere 

 referred to at the Bur bung ceremonies. During these 

 assemblages, too, the people often barter weapons and 

 other articles — and sometimes the teeth which were ex- 

 tracted at the initiatory rites are returned — particulars of 

 which have been reported by me in other publications. 

 Want of space compels me to omit many matters connected 

 with the Mumbirbirri ceremonies, which may be included in 

 a future communication. 



Some Burial and Mourning Customs. 

 The rites connected with death and burial vary some- 

 what among different tribes, and it would be highly inter- 

 esting if all the ceremonial connected with this subject 

 could be collected over the whole of Australia. The 

 following is an example of the procedure in ordinary cases 



