THE BURBUNG OR INITIATION CEREMONY. 131 
A yamstick is then stuck into the ground just outside the 
embankment bounding the Burbung, and a man, who may be 
called No, 1, catches hold of it in one hand, say his right. Another 
man then steps forward, and the first man lets go the yamstick, 
which the other man catches in his right hand—at the same time 
with his left hand catching hold of the right hand of the first man, 
who moves on to make room for him. A third man now steps up 
and the second man releases his hold of the yamstick, which is 
then caught by the right hand of No. 3, who, with his other hand 
catches the right hand of No. 2. Fresh men are continually 
added in this way until there is a complete ring of men with their 
hands joined all round the Burbung—the first man, No. 1, having 
again reached the yamstick, which he catches in his left hand.’ 
A man then runs once round this ring of men, singing as he 
goes, and when he gets back to the point from which he started, 
he hits the ground once with a nulla-nulla or piece of bark. All 
the men then let go their hands, and fall face downwards on the 
ground. The man again runs once round and hits the ground as 
before, and all the men who are lying on the ground roll over on 
their backs. The man once more runs round, and strikes the 
ground in the same way, which is the signal for all the men to 
rise to their feet, They then step back from the ring, some of 
them going to one side and some to another, but most of them 
mustering near the side from which the pathway issues. Having 
collected their weapons, which were lying close at hand, they com- 
mence beating them together. 
The old men then bend down the heads of the novices,’ and 
direct them to keep their eyes cast upon the ground at their feet. 
The mother of each novice is brought up near the embankment, 
*™mediately behind her son, and lies down in such a position that 
co 
Pg Burbung of the Darkinung Tribe.”—Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 
ef inet 5, 6. 
* “The Buna Ceremony of N. 8. Wales.”—American Anthropologist, 
IX., 385, 336, 
> 
3 
Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 1x., N.S., 125. 
