194 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



actually seen by the officers of the Expedition, have been described by 

 persons entitled to the fullest credit. 



The custom (to use the language of the settlers) " of making 

 ' 7 oung men," is singular. The object of the institution seems to be to 

 imprint forcibly upon the youth the rules and observances by which 

 his after life is to be governed ; and so strikingly are they adapted to 

 insure good conduct, that it can hardly be believed that they could 

 have originated among savages, such as the natives of Australia 

 now are. 



When the boys reach the age of fourteen, or that of puberty, the 

 elders of the tribe prepare to initiate them into the privileges of 

 manhoocf. A night or two previous, a dismal cry is heard in the 

 woods, which the boys are told is the Bulii calling for them. There- 

 upon all the men of the tribe set off for some secluded spot, previously 

 fixed upon, taking with them the boys or youths to be initiated. No 

 white man is allowed to be present, and the precise nature of the 

 ceremony is therefore unknown ; but it is certain that the ceremonies 

 are designed to try their courage, fortitude, and the expertness of the 

 boys in reference to their future employments in the chase and in war. 

 There is probably some difference in these ceremonies among the 

 different tribes. The Wellington station, or those of the interior, for 

 instance, never knock out a front tooth, which is always done on the 

 coast. 



From the time the youths are initiated, they are required to yield 

 implicit obedience to their elders. This is the only control that seems 

 to prevail, and is very requisite to preserve order and harmony in their 

 social intercourse, as well as to supply the place of distinctions of rank 

 among them. 



The youths are likewise restricted to articles of diet, not being 

 allowed to eat eggs, fish, or any of the finer kinds of opossum or 

 kangaroo. Their fare is consequently of a very poor description, but 

 as they grow older these restrictions are removed, although at what 

 age we have not learnt ; but after having passed the middle age, they 

 are entirely at liberty to partake of all. The purpose of this is thought 

 to be not only to accustom them to a simple and hardy way of living, 

 but also that they should provide for the aged, and not be allowed to 

 appropriate all to themselves. Selfishness is therefore no part of their 

 character, and all observers are struck with their custom of dividing 

 any thing they may receive among each other, a disinterestedness that 

 is seldom seen among civilized nations. 



To protect the morals of the youths, they are forbidden from the time 



