37 o ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [October, 



minutes, the men feparated for them to pafs, and the boys were now- 

 led over the bodies lying on the ground. Thefe immediately began to 

 move, writhing as if in agony, and uttering a mournful difmal found, 

 like very diftant thunder. Having paiTed over thefe bodies, the boys 

 were placed before the fecond figures, who went through the fame 

 feries of grimaces as thofe who were feated on the former flump ; after 

 which the whole moved forward. 



A particular name, boo-roo-moo-roong, was given to this fcene ; 

 but of its import very little could be learned. To the inquiries made 

 refpe&ing it no anfwer could be obtained, but that it was very good ; 

 that the boys would now become brave men; that they would fee 

 well and fight well. 



No. 6 — At a little di fiance from the preceding fcene the whole 

 party halted ; the boys were feated by each other, while oppofite 

 to them were drawn up in a half circle the other party, now armed 

 with the fpear and fhield. In the centre of this party, with his face 

 toward them, flood Boo-der-ro, the native who had throughout taken 

 the principal part in the bufinefs. He held his fhield in one hand, 

 and a club in the other, with which he gave them, as it were, the 

 time for their exercife. Striking the fhield with the club, at every 

 third ftroke the whole party poifed and prefented their fpears at him, 

 pointing them inwards, and touching the centre of his fhield. 



This concluded the ceremonies previous to the operation ; and it ap- 

 peared fignificant of an exercife which was to form the principal bufi- 

 nefs of their lives, the ufe of the fpear. 



No. 7. — They now commenced their preparations for finking out 

 the tooth. The firft fubjetT they took was a boy of about ten years of 

 age ; and he was feated on the moulders of another native, who fat 

 on the graft, as appears in this Plate. 



The 



