170 
HORN EXPEDITION—ANTHROPOLOGY. 
round the boy’s neck and arms, and sometimes over and under the shoulder; the 
fire-sticks are then handed to him, the lubras saying : “Take care of the fire; keep 
to your own camp.” He is then taken into the busli, where he is carefully guarded 
until evening, when he is brought back and again placed in the centre of the 
assembly, where he lies down and listens to the weird music of his kindred for 
half the night. This kind of programme continues for three or four nights, until 
the victim is in a state of nervous exhaustion and the other members of the trilio 
are beginning to feel worn out with their exertions; for, from the time of seizure 
of the boy until now, the corrobboree has been almost continuous. 
On the day upon which the operation is to take place a number of the men 
leave the camp at mid-day and return later in the afternoon, concealing in their 
approach the nlpinerka, who follows in their rear. During the day spears are 
struck vertically into the ground in two nearly parallel rows {iu-achitta\ and these 
are bedecked with gum leaves (Plate XVI., Fig. 21). Between the lines a sunken 
path is carefully prepared and swept. Notice of the approach of the boy is given 
to the lubi'as some time during the afternoon, when these immediately a.ssemble 
between the lines, dance to the chanting of some men told off for the purpose, and 
strip the leaves off the spears (Plate XVI., Fig. 23). This dance is called '■'■nnthippa ” 
Presently the blacks who are bringing in the boy are heard to approach, chanting 
a quaapara in warlike tones; each man is armed with a piece of green gum bark, 
which he throws at the dancing group of lubras as he approaches, still singing. 
The throwing of the bark, which sometimes effects nasty wounds, is the signal for 
the lubras to disperse and return to their camp, these being of course out of sight 
of the qiiaapara ground. The lubras being well out of view, the boy is brought in 
and placed at the narrower end of the lines, where a small shelter of green branches 
has been erected (Plate XVI., Fig. 22); the old paint and decorative designs 
are rubbed oflP, and the victim is painted anew with red and yellow ochre mixed 
with fat. No human or other blood is used. The youth is now left to chew the 
cud of reflection until nearly sundown, the men chanting, from time to time, at 
the other end of the lines, but meanwhile keeping a keen eye on their victim. 
Their spare time is taken up in elaborate additions to their toilet in the shape of 
red and yellow ochre and powdered charcoal. About sundown the lubras are 
invited to come back, and they take up a position standing on each side of the 
sunken path, while the men, who remain sitting, knock their shields on the 
ground several times, chanting noisily the while. Two men then jump up 
suddenly; one goes to the right and takes up a position on the side of the trench 
at its middle, the other man a corresponding position on the opposite side. 
