ABORIGINAL BORA. 103 



one by one into the enclosure, and compelled to eat the excrement 

 of old women, mixed with tao, the root of a plant called pigweed. 

 After this the young men were allowed to go away. White men 

 have state 1 that this custom was observed in several parts, but it 

 is only fair to state that some of the aborigines have strenuously 

 denied the truth of it. From all I have heard, I conclude that it 

 is actually observed by some tribes, but not by all." See also, 

 Anthr. Jour. VIL, p. 252. 



With the view of testing the correctness of Mr. Ridley's con- 

 clusions, I have made enquiries of squatters and station managers 

 who have lived in the back country and had opportunities of 

 observing the customs of the blacks for many years. Mr. Jackson, 

 now manager of Dulwich Estate, near Singleton, informs me that 

 a Bora was held on the Namoi River near Wee Waa, about 1860 

 or 1861. He was at that time managing Mr. Quinn's station, on 

 which a large number of blacks were employed, and was well 

 acquainted with " Bunna Bunna Jack," the head-man at the Bora, 

 who at Mr. Jackson's request, permitted him to be present at the 

 ceremonies. There were about six or seven young blacks to be 

 initiated, averaging about fourteen years of age. Some human 

 excrement was collected on a sheet of bark, and each of the novices 

 had to eat a small portion of it. This took place in Mr. Jackson's 

 presence, so that he was an eye witness of what he relates. 



Mr. James A. Glass, of Long Point, near Singleton, states that 

 in 1862 a Bora was held on Eurie Eurie run, on the Barwon 

 River, which at that time belonged to his father. A black boy 

 named " Jacky," and a half-caste called "Billy Clark," who were 

 both in Mr. Glass' father's service on the station named, attended 

 this Bora for the purpose of being initiated ; and on their return 

 my informant states that "Jacky " had a tooth out of the front 

 of his mouth, whilst the half-caste did not exhibit this mutilation. 

 On being asked the reason of this, they stated that at the Bora 

 they had been allowed the option of having a front tooth knocked 

 out, or eating the excrement of an old gin ; " Jacky " preferred 

 the former, and " Billy Clark " the latter alternative. 



