GROUP DIVISIONS AND INITIATION CEREMONIES. 249 



When the programme of performances in the bush has been 

 disposed of, all their effects are gathered up, and a start made 

 towards the locality where it is known the women have removed 

 their camp to. On the way thither the men who have been per- 

 forming, and instructing the novices, wash their bodies in a 

 waterhole. Men and boys then have their hair singed short, 

 including that growing under the arms, on the puhes, and other 

 parts. 



A discussion is held among the relatives of each boy, including 

 his mother's brothers, the brothers of his potential wives, and his 

 father's people, as well as the leading men of the tribe, and a new 

 name is assigned to each novitiate, by which he will in future be 

 known among the initiated men. All the novices are again 

 enjoined to observe strict secrecy respecting all these performances 

 when speaking to the women or uninitiated, white men and women 

 being included in the prohibition. 



The neophytes are freshly painted, and dressed in the simple 

 outfit of an Australian native before the white man made his 

 appearance among them. All hands then proceed towards the 

 camp of the women, near to which the novices, guardians, and the 

 other men who have been with them in the bush, are subjected to 

 the fire and smoke ordeal described by me in other publications. 



General Remarks. — I have very briefly outlined the different 

 ceremonies, for the purpose of keeping this article within reason- 

 able limits. As there are portions of the rites common to every 

 part of the Barkunjee territory, I propose dealing with a few of 

 them under a separate head, in order to avoid repetition. 



In most cases the graduates are not more than twelve or fifteen 

 years old when first taken in charge by their sponsors, and there- 

 fore the course of instruction in the bush will extend over some 

 years, before the youths are finally admitted to the full member- 

 ship of tribesmen. During this period they are taught certain 

 songs and dances which are never sung or enacted in the presence 

 of women or the uninitiated. What may be termed a cabalistic 



