138 . R. H. MATHEWS. 
and, when all is ready, the novices are told to raise their heads 
and look at the tableau before them, which is intended to repre- 
sent a streak of black cloud resting on the shoulders of the men. 
The kooringal walk slowly towards the novices, and if a breeze is 
blowing they move gradually with its current, to convey the idea 
of a cloud drifting with the wind. The kooringal now let the 
men down off their shoulders, and all of them jump about before 
the boys. 
The guardians now take the novices away several miles to & 
camp in the bush, being accompanied by some of the principal 
headmen, who have charge of the ceremonies, and a number of 
initiated men, called the kooringal, selected from the several tribes 
present at the Burbung gathering. The fathers and other relatives 
of the boys are also amongst the company. The blankets are kept 
over the heads of the novices in the manner already described, 
and they have to walk along with their eyes cast upon the heels 
of the man in front of them. All the men and boys walk along 
at a leisurely pace, and the latter are not permitted to speak or 
to gaze about them. : 
On arriving at the place where they intend to stay for the 
night, a space is cleared of sticks and other loose rubbish, and 
the boys, with their guardians, occupy one side of it, a little way 
from the men. The kooringal and other men camp round this 
cleared space, the men of each tribe keeping by themselves. The 
novices are placed lying down with the blankets on their heads as 
before, some of the guardians being continually with them. 
During the evening the kooringal play the wyang or night-owl. 
They have white rings painted with pipe clay round their eyes, 
and mud plastered on their posteriors, on which feathers are 
fastened. They file past the fire to and fro a few times imitating 
the owl, the novices sitting on the other side of the fire looking 
at them. If it is a fine night more than one pantomime may be 
played. When they become weary or sleepy, the boys are taken 
to their own quarters, and all hands retire for the night. 
