IIOUN EXPEDITION—ANTIIHOPOLOGY. 
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soi'es. This priictice I \v;is informed prevails eastward of Bimbowrie as far as 
the New South Wales border and northwards to the country about Cooper’s Creek. 
In the case of snake bite it is rather remarkable to find that a ligature is 
bound round the limb above the seat of puncture which is then held near the lire. 
I was told also tliat the wound is sometimes sucked. Had I not received frequent 
confirmation of tliis statement I should scarcely have believed that the rational 
priiiciple of hindering the poison from entering the circulation should have been 
so clearly recognised and put in practice. Mr. Foelsche records a similar use of 
the ligature for the same purpose by the natives around Port Darwin. 
I had tlu! opportunity of confirming a very curious statement communicated 
to me by Mr. Thornton of Tempe Downs sometime previous to our visit. It is 
considei’od by the natives of this and other neighbouring districts that recently 
voided urine (human) is an antidote for strychnine poisoning, and as such is 
habitually administered not only to their dogs which have taken poisoned baits 
but also to members of the tribe who have become accidentally poisoned by 
appropriating the baits. I saw several dogs and one woman that had recovered 
after havinp' swallowed doses that ormht to have been fatal. Mr. Thornton and 
O O 
others with him have actually witnessed the administration of this physiological 
antidote which certainly has the advantage of ready accessibility. Doubtless, the 
beneticial results which seem real are due solely to the emetic etfects, and, indeed, 
I was told that in other districts ashes and water, or salt and water are given with 
the intention of bringing these about. 
Making of Medicine Men op Wizands. 
This seems a convenient place to relate what information I gathered concern¬ 
ing the tribal doctor, or wizard as he might be more appropriately termed. Mr. 
Gillen gives a graphic account of the manner of induction to office as it obtains at 
Alice Springs, which it will be seen differs from that here related. Mr. Gillen's 
opportunities have been so favourable and his accuracy so unquestionable, that his 
account must be certainly accepted as holding good for the section of the Aruiita 
with which he is so well acquainted. Nevertheless, as the particulars I gathered 
were only recorded after much cross-questioning and some confirmation, I offer 
them as possibly being correct for other districts ; though, I am well aware of 
my inferior opportunities for getting at the truth, and of some unsatisfactory 
features of the accounts I offer. 
As far as concerns a portion of the Aruuta tribe to the southwards, the 
following represents what I gathered. Any member of a camp, male oi' female, 
ISA 
