642 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
At a corrobborie which I witnessed, held preparatory to marriage, 
the betrothed husband wore a belt from which hung in front the small 
apron of fringes, with a tail of black feathers dependent behind. On 
his head was a pointed cap about 15 inches high, in shape just like 
a fool’s cap, formed of paperbnrk and covered with white down, while 
his face was whitened with pipeclay, and white bands ornamented his 
body and legs. In the ground a post had been fixed, and painted with 
red ochre, the representative of the dubbo-dubbo, the devil ( birduel ), 
which so frequently figures in corrobbories. "With this post, and with 
hark painted info a grotesque representation of a man, a figure was 
made, and surmounted with a conical cap similar to that worn by the 
bridegroom. The corrobborie was after the usual order, and seem- 
ingly set forth the prowess of the man, his dexterity with the spear, 
and skill in the chase, and I think it may be read as a challenge in 
which the man publicly announces his intention to take the maid. 
Women and children were present. On the next day there was great 
commotion, as a rumour of another blackfellow having declared his 
intention to “ catch” the girl spread. At night in the camp there was 
a veritable babel of tongues, the women discussing the matter in all 
its bearings in their camp, and with their neighbours across the camps. 
Occasionally above the din an old lady would harangue, and now and 
again the headman in the Wulnar camp, the father of Long‘aba, 
would answer in a speech delivered from his camp 150 yards distant. 
It was long after midnight before the camp was quiet. Towards five 
on the following day the L&rraki‘a congregated near the camp, and 
two sides formed, armed with reed spears. In the open space between 
the two lines of spectators sometimes a single black would burl his 
spears one after another at an opposing blackfellow, who would as 
adroitly avoid them, ducking bis bead, bending his back, or shifting 
slightly to one side, while sometimes seven or eight on each side would 
be engaged. As the spears were thrown others gathered them up, 
and in their turn hurled them back ; occasionally, but rarely, spears 
were flying in both directions. Two or three were wounded, and in 
one the spear stood in bis skull over the ear. He staggered, and the 
spear being pulled out, was carried into the scrub ; I did not expect 
to see him alive again, but he was about some days after. 1 noticed 
that good humour prevailed throughout, and that the contestants 
appeared to be actuated more by a desire to exhibit their skill than 
instigated by bad blood. Muttered signs of approval, irrespective of 
the side, were given at any good throws or a particularly clever 
avoidance of the spears, and hearty applause, much laughter, and 
derision when there was a hit. After dusk the uproar of the preceding 
night was resumed, but the next day it was known that the rivals 
were to settle the question by a duel with clubs, he with the hardest 
head to win the maiden’s hand. The result was adverse to the 
betrothed, and later, when the girl fled and was pursued by the tribe, 
it was by the gallant who had won her love she was captured. 
In another case, when the betrothed husband desired to claim his 
spouse, the maid preferred single blessedness; and notwithstanding 
frequent solicitations during the six or seven years which have elapsed, 
she still remains a chaste virgin. 
The boys attaining to the age of puberty are seized at dusk bv 
men who have been watching their opportunity, and borne away into 
