74 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 
every boy is so treated, and the married men have no lack of families. 
On the other hand, it is supposed to have originated in a case of stric- 
ture, caused by drinking salt or brackish water ; and an afflicted native 
having in desperation operated on himself, and obtaining relief, the 
practice was generally adopted. I think, however, it is simply some 
ancient rite connected with Phallic worship. 
The boy is now a "Wongalong," and after a short interval he 
undergoes the process of having his body ornamented by various cuts 
and incisions on the shoulder blades, arms, chest, loins, and buttocks. 
These cuts are treated in such a manner that they form cicatrices often 
as thick as a man's finger, and raised like cords on the body. The 
natives are excessively proud of these markings, and endure severe 
tortures in order to develop them to the utmost. 
In some tribes there is practised about this time the bleeding of the 
neophyte. An incision is made in the arm, and the elders suck the 
blood until the patient is well-nigh exhausted. 
The next step is the Wilgieing. This is done when the young 
man is considered to have reached a marriageable age. In fact it 
signifies that he has come of age and has entered into his property. 
If he is betrothed, or can find a girl in the tribe, he can now marry. 
"W^ilgie" is a coarse red ochre, sometimes obtained from the river 
^Uuvials, and often made by burning the highly ferruginous sandstones 
of the district. 
In the event of a wife not being obtainable, the youth is presented 
with a boy- wife, known as Choohadoo. In this case also the rules of 
the marriage sects are observed, and the husband is not permitted to 
have any intercourse with his quasi mother-in-law. 
As before mentioned, the "Chookadoo" is a boy of five years to 
about ten, when he is initiated ; but the relations which exist between 
him and his protecting Billalu are somewhat doubtful. There is no 
doubt they have connexion, but the natives repudiate with horror and 
disgust the idea of Sodomy. 
The females are Yadup " to five years ; Kunyerry " when they 
are cicatrized on the arms and shoulders, and have one or two front 
teeth knocked out. They are then TJarrbun" up to the age of puberty. 
After marriage, and the birth of the first child, they are styled 
Doobhjamdoo." ^ 
The nasal septum is pierced in the male, and sometimes ornamented with a 
piece of horn or hamboo ; but I only noticed this once in the case of a woman. 
