MEETINGS OF TRIBES. 
221 
equi-distant from both, when they threw down their 
cloaks with violence, and the bags which they carried 
on their backs, and which contained all their worldly 
effects. The bags were then opened, and pieces of 
glass and shells taken out, with which they lacerated 
their thighs, backs, and breasts, in a most frightful 
manner, whilst the blood kept pouring out of 
the wounds in streams; and in this plight, con- 
tinuing their wild and piercing lamentations, they 
moved up towards the Moorunde tribe, who sat 
silently and immoveably in the place at first occu- 
pied. One of the women then went up to a strange 
native, who was on a visit to the Moorunde tribe 
and who stood neutral in the affair of the meeting, 
and by violent language and frantic gesticulations 
endeavoured to incite him to revenge the death of 
some relation or friend. But he could not be in- 
duced to lift his spear against the people amongst 
whom he was sojourning. After some time had been 
spent in mourning, the women took up their bundles 
again, and retiring, placed themselves in the rear of 
their own party. An elderly man then advanced, 
and after a short colloquy with the seated tribe, 
went back, and beckoned his own people to come 
forward, which they did slowly and in good order, 
exhibiting in front three uplifted spears, to which 
were attached the little nets left with them by 
the envoys of the opposite tribe, and which were the 
emblems of the duty they had come to perform, 
after the ordinary expiations had been accomplished. 
