TWO BORA GRpUNDS OF THE KAMILAROI TRIBE. 427 



and another had marks as if struck by lightning. The total 

 distance between the two circles was twenty-four and a 

 half chains, but the pathway was not straight, as is usually 

 the case, owing to the slight detour to skirt the rough 

 rocky ground on the end of the ridge. 



The Bora Ground at Kunopia. 



A Bora was held on Kunopia Run during the latter part 

 of 1891, for the purpose of initiating a number of young 

 men of the Kamilaroi tribe belonging to the surrounding 

 district. An entirely new site was selected, and the 

 necessary preparations made near Gnoura Gnoura Oreek r 

 about two or three miles from Kunopia Homestead, in the 

 Parish of Bonanga, County of Benarba. I did not know of 

 this gathering till it was all over, but I visited the place 

 during the following year for the purpose of describing the 

 Bora ground and establishing its position on the Govern- 

 ment maps. At Kunopia Station I found " Billy Wight- 

 man" and "Jimmy Gular," two of the principal old 

 Kamilaroi blacks who had charge of the ceremonies in 1891, 

 and they were very willing to give me all the assistance 

 they could. 



The natives who had assembled to participate in the 

 ceremonies had taken up their quarters near the left bank 

 of Gnoura Gnoura Creek, from which they obtained water 

 for camp use. Contingents of Kamilaroi blacks came from 

 Willarie, Moogan, Gundabloui, Mungindi and other places* 

 Each contingent brought some youths who were ready for 

 initiation, making a total of between twenty and twenty- 

 five graduates, as near as I could gather from my guides. 



About a quarter of a mile in a south-westerly direction 

 from the main camp, the necessary clearing and other pre- 

 parations were carried out. The boora or larger ring was 

 twenty-three yards in diameter, composed by heaping the 

 loose earth to a height of fourteen inches, with an opening 



