1796.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 3$- 



the feptum of the nofe bored, to receive a bone or reed, which among 

 them is deemed a very great ornament, though the articulation is fre- 

 quently rendered very imperfect by it. Between the fame years alio 

 the males receive the qualifications which are given to them by lofing- 

 one front tooth. This ceremony occurred twice while the Author of 

 this narrative was in the country ; and at the fecond of thefe opera- 

 tions he was fo fortunate as to be prefent the whole of the time, at- 

 tended by a perfon well qualified to make Drawings of every particular 

 circumftance that occurred. 



On the 25th of January 1795, the natives affembled in considerable 

 numbers for the purpofe of performing this ceremony ; as feveral 

 youths well known in the fettlement, never having fubmitted to the 

 operation^ were now to be made men. Pe-mul-wy, a wood native, 

 and many ftrangers, came in; but the principals in the operation not 

 being arrived from Cam-mer-ray, the intermediate nights were to be 

 palfed in dancing ; for which purpofe they were ornamented in their 

 beft manner, and certainly difplayed a variety of taftes. One was 

 painted white to the middle, his beard and eyebrows excepted, others 

 were diftinguifhed by large white circles round the eyes, which ren- 

 dered them as terrific as can be well imagined. It was not until the 

 fecond of February that the party was complete. In the evening of 

 that day the people from Cam-mer-ray arrived, among whom were 

 thofe who were to perform the operation. They were painted after 

 the manner of their country, were moftly provided with fhields, and: 

 all armed with clubs, fpears, and throwing flicks. The place felecled for 

 this extraordinary exhibition was at the head of Farm Cove, where 

 a fpace had been for fome days prepared by clearing it of grafs^ 

 Humps,. &c. ; it was an oval figure, the dimenfions of it 27 feet by 

 eighteen, and was named Yoo-lahng. 



When the Author reached the fpot, he found the party from the 

 North Shore armed, and Handing at one end of it ; at the other were 

 the boys who were to be given up for the purpofe of lofing each a 

 tooth,, with their feveral friends who had accompanied them.. 



The: 



