328 K. H. MATHEWS. 



to the single men's quarters, where a place has been assigned 

 to him. He is not allowed to go into the women's camp, 

 nor must he converse with any woman whom he meets. 

 The guardian and his people then give presents of spears, 

 rugs and other articles to the graduate's father and his 

 people; and the latter in return make gifts to the guardian's 

 friends, at a meeting which has been held for that purpose. 

 The graduate has now attained the final step in the initia- 

 tory course, and after a time he will be allowed to claim 

 the bride who has been betrothed to him, and exercise the 

 rights and burdens of tribal membership. 



The Dolgarrity Ceremony. 

 Another form of initiation ceremony, called Dol-gar-rity, 

 of which the following is a condensed description, was 

 practised among the tribes who formerly roamed over the 

 north-western districts oi* Victoria from the Avoca River 1 

 westward totheSouth Australian boundary, and extending 

 from the Murray River southerly to the main range. The 

 following particulars were gathered by me in the native 

 camps. 



The preliminaries connected with convoking the neigh- 

 bouring tribes at an appointed meeting place were sub- 

 stantially the same as those adopted in the Wonggoa, but 

 there was no circular enclosure like the guanga at the main 

 encampment. There was, however, a level portion of 

 ground cleared of all loose sticks and rubbish, for the pur- 

 pose of dancing on. 



As soon as all the tribes who are expected in answer to 

 the summons of the messengers have made their appearance 

 the chief men of each contingent consult together, and fix 

 the day on which the principal function of the meeting 



1 For the language of these people, see my article on " Die Sprachedes 

 Tyeddyuwurru-Stammes der Eingebornen von Victoria/' Mitteil. d. 

 Anthrop. Gesellsch. in Wien, Bd. xxxiv., S. 71-76. 



