inches. It was called Jimbirn. It was worn sometimes by females, but very seldom; and was always regarded as belonging to men. The Jimbirn was useful as well as ornamental, as it kept the hair from falling over the eyes.[1]
To the Jimbirn was attached an ornament, made of the teeth of the kangaroo—Nerndoa jirrah (nerndoa, teeth; jirrah, kangaroo)—and string formed of the wool of the opossum, which was so arranged as to cause the teeth to hang on each temple. At the back of the head was suspended from the string which fastened the Jimbirn a wild dog's tail—Wreka baanda (wreka, tail; baanda, dog). This much resembled the cue, which was thought becoming some few years ago in Europe. Over the ears and pointing to the front was placed the fur of the tips of the ears of a native bear (Koola), called by the natives Kinanga Koola. Over the forehead was worn sometimes the feather of the eagle, a tuft of emu feathers, or the crest of a cockatoo. This ornament answers to the tuft of feathers with which military men decorate their hats and helmets. The hair was always well greased, and plentifully sprinkled with ruddle, called by the natives Ni-le. Mr. Bulmer says he has never seen any ear-ornaments. They never, he thinks, pierced the ears. But it was considered proper to bore the septum of the nose. Indeed it was ordained that the septum should be pierced, and that each person should wear in it a piece of bone, a reed, or the stalk of some grass, the name of the ornament being Boon-joon. The old men used to predict to those who were averse to this mutilation all kinds of evils. If it were omitted at the proper time, the sinner would suffer—not in this world, but in the next. As soon as ever the spirit—Ngowk—left the body, it would be required, as a punishment, to eat Toorta gwanang (filth—not proper for translation). To avert a punishment so horrible, each one gladly submitted, and his or her nose was pierced accordingly.[2] Around the neck were worn a few
- ↑ The fillet was used by the Egyptians, but whether to bind the natural hair or the wig is not clear.—(See Wilkinson: The Ancient Egyptians, vol. II., p. 325.)
The Chaldæans wore "a band of camel's hair—the germ of the turban which has now become universal throughout the East."
Amongst the Assyrians, "if the hair was very luxuriant, it was confined by a band or fillet, which was generally tied behind the back of the head" (like the Egyptian fillet).
The rich worshippers who brought offerings to the gods in Babylonia "had a fillet, or head-band—not a turban—round the head."—Rawlinson: The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World.
Some of the Ancient Persians wore round the head a twisted band, which resembled a rope.
The Greeks and the Romans wore fillets.
Dido bids Barce bind her head in these words—
"Tuque ipsa piâ tege tempora vitta."
The infulæ and vittæ—a sort of white fillets—were used in Roman sacrifices.
The Italian lista, the French bande, and the English bandeau, or brow-band, are little different from the Aboriginal head-band. Shoemakers wear a band round the head, so as to keep the hair from falling over their eyes when they are at work; and until lately the bandeau was worn by English ladies. It is certain that the Jimbirn is more ancient than these.
- ↑ It is very singular, says Mr. Bulmer, that the natives, who have no form of religion, should have a distinct idea of a spiritual existence. They think that the soul, as soon as it leaves the body, goes off to the east, where there is a land abounding in sow-thistles (Thallak), which the departed eat and live. The spirits are sometimes prevented from reaching the happy land by the moon, which devours them if they encounter it, and indeed feeds on stray mortals and spirits of departed men and women. When the moon is red, they see proof that it has eaten plentifully of its favorite food.
