362 R. H. MATHEWS. 



locality a long way off, and the Yaroma is supposed to 

 depart to that place. If they cannot be dispersed by this 

 means, the men take sticks which have been lighted in the 

 fire — a stick in each hand — and strike them together to 

 throw out sparks. This usually causes the Yaroma to dis- 

 appear into the ground, making a flash of light as he does 

 so. If a man be pursued by a Yaroma his only means of 

 escape is to jump into a waterhole and swim about, because 

 these creatures cannot wet their feet. They have long 

 teetli which they sharpen on rocks in the high ranges ; and 

 some of the old men aver that they know of rocks where 

 there still remain marks of this grinding. 



On one occasion, a blackfellow went under a large fig 

 tree to pick up ripe figs, which had fallen to the ground, 

 when a Yaroma, which was hidden in a hollow place in the 

 base of the tree, rushed out and catching hold of the man, 

 swallowed him head first. It happened that the victim 

 was a man of unusual length, measuring more than a foot 

 taller than the majority of his countrymen. Owing to this 

 circumstance, the Yaroma was not able to gulp him farther 

 than the calves of his legs, leaving his feet protruding from 

 the monster's mouth, thus keeping it open and allowing the 

 air to descend to the man's nostrils, which saved him from 

 suffocation. The Yaroma soon began to feel a nausea similar 

 to what occurs when a piece of fishbone or other substance 

 gets stuck in one's throat. He went to the bank of the 

 river close by and took a drink of water to moisten his 

 throat, thinking by this means to suck into his stomach the 

 remainder of his prey, and complete his repast. This was 

 all to no purpose, however, for, becoming sick, the Yaroma 

 vomited the man out on the dry land. He was still alive, 

 but feigned to be dead, in order that he might perhaps have 

 a chance of escape. The Yaroma then started away to 

 bring his mates to assist him to carry the dead man to 



