150 R. H. MATHEWS. 
at any rate in the course of a short time. The local tribe also 
shift to another part of their ngoorumbang, the food supply of the 
present camping ground having been exhausted by the large 
demand made upon its animals and fruits by the tribes who have 
attended the ceremonies. 
Each tribe takes charge of its own novices, who are kept under 
the control of their guardians or relatives. They are not permitted 
to talk or laugh loud until they reach the age at which they 
develop the voice of a man. They are allowed to lodge near the 
main camp, and may come in sight of the women, but must 
not speak to them. They are gradually brought nearer and 
nearer to the men’s quarters until they eventually come right in 
among the single men. A white stone, (quartz crystal) called 
goonabillang or ngullang, is given to the neophytes by the old men. 
A boy must attend at least three burbungs before he is admitted 
to the full privileges of a tribesman. 
The mother of a novice is likewise required to comply with 
certain tribal regulations. Any food which she collects herself, 
or which is given to her by others, is eaten by her alone, as it 
. would be unpropitious and fraught with evil to her son if she 
were to give any food to another person, until her son acquires 4 
man’s voice. 
It will be interesting to give a brief outline of the formalities 
connected with the disposal of the teeth of the novices. When 
the old man extracts a boy’s tooth in the manner described in the 
preceding pages, he hands it to the guardian, who takes care of it 
until he has an opportunity of giving it to the father of the boy. 
Before all the people disperse, the father hands over the tooth to 
the headman of one of the tribes in which he may have relatives 
or acquaintances, who takes it away with him to his own country. 
This headman may send the tooth farther on to another tribe, or 
he may keep it amongst his own people. 
After a time, which may be only of a few months duration, or 
it may be a much longer period, the headman who took the tooth 
