120 R. H. MATHEWS. 



cance of what they had gone through at the smaller circle. On 

 their arrival at Mungaroo, the old men formed a camp on the 

 edge of a scrub near water ; and about one hundred and fifty 

 yards from it in the scrub a separate camp was made for the 

 boys. The latter consisted of a partial enclosure in the shape 

 of a horse-shoe, the open end being that farthest from the 

 men's camp. The width across the open end was about 

 thirty feet, and the depth from there to the back wall about 

 twenty feet, — the walls being about four feet high, and were 

 formed of boughs. Across the open end small fires were kept 

 burning, and when in this yard, the youths were never without a 

 few of their guardians, who furnished them with food, and attended 

 to their wants. Whilst in the yard they were not allowed to look 

 up, but when out hunting or playing with the men they were 

 allowed greater liberty. On leaving this yard in the morning or 

 returning to it in the evening, the novitiates had to keep their 

 eyes on the ground while the camp was within sight. Women 

 were not permitted to approach either of these camps. 



Many of the men unconnected with the ceremonies accompanied 

 the men and catechumens to Mungaroo, but the women and 

 children, and any of the men who were infirm or did not care to 

 go, remained at the general camp. Mungaroo, which is on a 

 warrambool of the same name, is a great place for marsupials and 

 native game of all sorts. During the daytime the men and youths 

 would strip and paint themselves with raddle and grease, and 

 ornament themselves with kilts made of wallaby skin suspended 

 in front by girdles round the waist, when they would all go into 

 the bush and hunt. The old men taught the novitiates how to 

 play the native games, to sing the songs of the tribe, and to dance 

 certain corroborees which neither the gins nor the uninitiated are 

 permitted to learn. They were also instructed in the sacred 

 traditions and lore of the tribe ; to show respect to the old men ; 

 and not to interfere with unprotected women. 



On some of the days spent at this camp the men and boys cut 

 grass and reeds, and tied them up so as to resemble kangaroo's 



