like very distant thunder. A particular name, Boo-roo-moo-roong, was given to this scene; but of its import very little could be learned. To the enquiries made respecting it no answer could be obtained but that it was very good—that the boys would now become brave men—that they would see well and fight well.
6th. The boys seated by each other, and opposite to them, drawn up in a half-circle, the other party, now armed with the spear and shield. In the centre is the principal performer, holding his shield in one hand and a club in the other, with which he gives them the time for their exercise. Striking the shield with the club, at every third stroke the whole party poise and present their spears at him, pointing them inwards and touching the centre of his shield.
7th. Striking out the tooth. The first subject was a boy about ten years of age. He was seated on the shoulders of another native who sat on the grass. The bone was now produced, which it was pretended had been taken from the stomach of the native the preceding evening. This, made very sharp and fine at one end, was used for lancing the gum. A throwing-stick was now to be cut eight or ten inches from the end, and to effect this much ceremony was used. The stick was laid upon a tree, and three attempts to hit it were made before it was struck; three feints were constantly made before each stroke. When the gum was properly prepared, the operation began: the smallest end of the stick was applied as high upon the tooth as the gum would admit of, while the operator stood ready with a large stone, apparently to drive the tooth down the throat of his patient. Here their attention to the number three was again manifest; no stroke was actually made until the operator had thrice attempted to hit the throwing-stick. They were full ten minutes about this first operation, the tooth being very firmly fixed. It was at last forced out, and the sufferer was taken to a little distance, where the gum was closed by his friends, who now equipped him in the style that he was to appear in for some days.
A girdle was tied round his waist, in which was stuck a wooden sword; a ligature was put round his head, in which were stuck slips of the grass-gum-tree, which, being white, had a curious and not unpleasing effect. The left hand was to be placed over the mouth, which was to be kept shut; he was on no account to speak, and for that day he was not to eat. The rest were treated in the same manner. During the whole of the operation the assistants made the most hideous noise in the ears of the patients, crying, "E-wah-e-wah! ga-ga-ga-ga!"
The blood that issued from the lacerated gum was not wiped away, but suffered to run down the breast and fall upon the head of the man on whose shoulders the patient sat, and whose name was added to his. This blood remained dried upon the heads of the men and breasts of the boys for days. The boys were also termed Ke-bar-ra, a name which has reference in its construction to the singular instrument used on the occasion; Ke-bah, in their language, signifying a rock or stone.
8th. The boys, in the dress described, seated on a log. On a signal being given, they all started up and rushed into the settlement, driving before them men, women, and children, who were glad to get out of their way. They were now received into the class of men.[1]
- ↑ An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, by Lieut.-Col. Collins, 1804, pp. 365-374.
