276 B. H. MATHEWS. 



caused the death of their comrade. Perhaps two or three, 

 or even more men are equally suspected in a certain camp 

 which the smoke indicated, and further measures are 

 necessary to sheet it home to the guilty individual. A 

 couple of clever men are selected to enquire into this 

 matter, and the first opportunity which occurs of visiting 

 the tribe containing the " suspects," these chosen men go 

 on pretence of bartering, or other feasible business. When 

 they get among the men of the other tribe, they let their 

 fire burn down, and some time when no one is looking, one 

 of them throws a little of his ngurrungarat powder on the 

 fire, and watches which way the smoke goes. Which- 

 ever one of the suspects happens to be in the direction 

 taken by the smoke is then singled out as the sorcerer who 

 killed their kinsman. These two men next go and sit down 

 near the suspect and watch him closely, to see if he is very 

 much perturbed and guilty-lcoking after the smoke has 

 found him out. The man by this time probably concludes 

 that he is suspected, and whether he is guilty or not he 

 becomes rather disconcerted, because he realizes his danger- 

 ous position. This conduct confirms the spies in their con- 

 clusions, and they go back to their own people and report 

 the result of their mission. 



A consultation is then held at the bahmbilli, and the duty 

 of retaliating is assigned to one or more of their special 

 sorcerers — fellows who are equal in skill to those in the 

 adversary's camp. Several other men go with them, 

 including generally a couple of young men as recruits to 

 learn the mode of procedure, so that in later years they 

 may be able to take charge of similar expeditions. Some 

 of the older men will each have a little bag, guraga, con- 

 taining ngurrungarat powder fastened on the top of the 

 head amongst the hair. This bag, of its own accord, falls 

 over on the side of the head towards the camp of the man 



