NEW SOUTH WAL ES. 197 



and the face completely covered as with a mask, in which holes are 

 left for the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. The mask is gradually removed, 

 until the last that is seen of it is a small patch on the top of the head. 



They have some idea of a future state, although some assert that the 

 whole man dies, and that nothing is left of him ; while others are of 

 opinion that his spirit yet lives, either as a wandering ghost or in a 

 state of metamorphosis, animating a bird or other creature of a lower 

 order than man. 



Their opinions on religious subjects generally partake of the same 

 unsettled character, which makes it very difficult to obtain any clear 

 idea of them. The great difficulty is the unwillingness of the natives 

 to talk upon the subject, either from superstition or shame ; and it is the 

 opinion of the missionaries that no full account of their religious notions 

 will be obtained, until one of the well-informed adults is converted to 

 Christianity, an event which is not soon to be expected. The mission- 

 aries have had little or no success ; none of the adults have hitherto 

 shown any desire to embrace Christianity; and it is remarked, that 

 there appears to be a want of susceptibility in their character to 

 religious impressions. Some of their ceremonies which partook of that 

 character have been discontinued of late years, and no others have been 

 adopted in their place. They have, however, some indistinct notions 

 of a Deity. The missionaries at Wellington have heard from them of 

 a being whom they call Bai-a-mai, and whom, with his son Burambin, 

 they deem the creator of all things. To this Bai-a-mai they pay a kind 

 of annual worship by dancing and singing a song in his honour. This 

 song, they say, was brought from a distant country by strangers who 

 went about teaching it. This annual worship took place in the month 

 of February, and all who did not join in it were supposed to incur the 

 displeasure of the god. 



Bai-a-mai was supposed to live on an island beyond the great sea of 

 the coast, and to eat fish, which, when he required food, came up at his 

 call from the water. Burambin, others say, was brought into existence 

 by Bai-a-mai, when the missionaries first came to Wellington. 



Dararwirgal is a brother of Bai-a-mai, and lives in the far west. To 

 him they ascribe the origin of the small-pox, which has made such 

 ravages among them. They say that he was vexed for want of a 

 tomahawk, and therefore sent that disease among them ; but they now 

 suppose that he has obtained one, and that the disease will come no 

 more. 



Balumbals are angels, said to be white, who live on a mountain to 

 the southwest, at a great distance. Their food is honey, and their 

 employment like that of the missionaries. 



R2 



