112 R. H. MATHEWS. 



to the track, and on the south side of it, with their heads in con- 

 trary directions. (Plate 3, fig. 2.) These represent a large snake 

 called by the natives " mungan," and its flesh is preferred to that 

 of other snakes. 



The body of a bullock was formed by logs covered with earth, 

 on one end of which was laid a dry skeleton of a bullock's head, 

 with the horns on it, and a stick stuck in the other end of it for 

 a tail. 



There was a mound of earth, four feet long, representing a 

 grave, on the north side of the pathway. On opening this it 

 contained some old clothes placed in a sheet of bark, which was 

 doubled round them and fastened by a cord to keep it from opening, 

 showing the way natives are buried. 



On the south side of the track was a life-size male figure cut 

 out of bark, and placed on top of some raised earth about nine 

 inches high, so as to resemble a man lying on the ground. On 

 the other side of the path, opposite to this, was the figure of a 

 female formed in the same way. These represented the men and 

 women of the tribes. 



Not far from the track were three small gunyahs made of bark, 

 indicating the dwellings of the natives. Two of these were on 

 the southern, and one on the northern side of the path. 



At intervals along the track, some being on one side and some 

 on the other, were sixteen bushes naturally growing there, con- 

 taining representations of birds' nests, in which were placed stones 

 and prickly pears for eggs. Dispersed along the track in the 

 same manner were half a dozen imitations of caterpillars' nests, 

 made of about a quart of sand tied up in cloths like puddings, 

 and hung on trees ; the caterpillars* were represented by small 

 leaves of the prickly pear threaded on a string by means of a hole 

 through one end of them, and the string tied round the tree. 

 These nests, the natives say, represent the gifts of Baiamai to them. 



* Representations of the cockchafer were shown on the Bora ground 

 described by Mr. Henderson. 



