the part virilis complete the costume. For further adornment each blackens his face, arms, and breast. When the ceremonies are concluded, all the men press around the Wilyalkinyes and give them advice as to their future conduct, the drift of which, as far as Mr. Schürmann has been able to make out, is that they shall avoid quarrels, not indulge in loud talk, and keep away from the women. The two last of these injunctions are strictly observed; and to this end they separate themselves day and night from the other blacks, and speak in a subdued tone, until after the expiration of four or five months, when they are relieved from their obligation. The final acts which precede admission to the enjoyments and privileges of grown-up men are the tearing off from their necks of the opossum cord, and the sprinkling of their bodies with blood.
The above description—given nearly in Mr. Wilhelmi's own words—is interesting in a high degree; and no one can read it without being struck with the resemblance to certain observances amongst our own people and the people of the south of Europe. The covering up of the bodies of the novices with a rug is in itself a striking feature.
Collins states that between the ages of eight and sixteen the males and females had to undergo the operation which they term Gna-noong—namely, that of having the septum of the nose bored, to receive a bone or reed, which among them is deemed a very great ornament, though the articulation is frequently rendered very imperfect by it. Between the same years, also, the males received the qualifications which are given to them by losing one front tooth.
Collins had excellent opportunities of observing the ceremonies attendant on this operation, and an artist who accompanied him on one occasion made drawings illustrative of every particular circumstance that occurred. He gives a full description of the scenes, and they are highly interesting.
On the 25th January 1795, there were several youths, well known in the settlement, to be made men; and a crowd of natives assembled at the head of Farm Cove. The men from Cam-mer-ray, who were to perform the ceremony, were painted white in various patterns, and carried their weapons with them. After some nights passed in dancing, the real business of the meeting commenced. A space had been prepared by clearing it of grass, stumps, &c.; it was an oval figure; the dimensions of it twenty-seven feet by eighteen, and was named Yoo-lahng.
The ceremony began by the advance of the armed party from their end of the Yoo-lahng with a song, or rather a shout, peculiar to the occasion, clattering their spears and shields, and raising a dust with their feet that nearly obscured the objects around them.
On reaching the children, one of the party stepped from the crowd, and, seizing his victim, returned with him to his party, who received him with a shout louder than usual, placing him in the midst, where he seemed defended by a grove of spears from any attempts that his friends might make to rescue him. In this manner the whole were taken out to the number of fifteen; these were seated at the upper end of the Yoo-lahng, each holding down the head, his hands clasped and his legs crossed under him. In this position, awkward
