Bullundoot—the term Bullun being 'two,' signifying a dual existence. Bowkan is also sometimes called Bullun-Bowkan. They are said to live in the clouds; and sudden attacks of illness are often attributed to Brewin. Bowkan is invoked to relieve from the influence of Brewin, who inflicts upon the blacks, as they believe, various forms of disorder, which are called, for instance, Toon-dung, seemingly a chest affection; violent pains in the abdomen, &c.; these may be caused by Brewin with the hooked part of the throwing-stick (Murrawun), or by actually passing down the afflicted person's throat. In the latter case it is attempted to drive out the intruder by shouting out abusive and threatening words to him.
One form of charm used is this:—
Toondunga Brewiuda
Nandu-unga Ugaringa
Mrew murrawunda
Toondunga, &c., &c.
It is sung to a monotonous chant, and may be rendered, 'Oh, Brewin! I expect you have given Toondung, or the eye (sharp hooked end) of the Murrawun (throwing-stick).'
Besides this belief in Bowkan, Bullundoot, and Brewin, there is also one in the Mrarts. The Mrarts are believed to be the spirits of departed blackfellows, and they are considered to live in the clouds. They are mostly well disposed towards the natives, but some do them injury, frightening them, and carrying off children and grown-up people to devour. These evil Mrarts wander about, particularly at night, carrying a net-bag, like the one used for catching small fish in swamps, into which they are supposed to thrust the children.
Brookgill, near Boul Boul, on the Lakes, seems to have been a place infested by these evil Mrarts, for several stories are current about them there.
see them. The Boyl-yas do not bite, they feed stealthily ; they do not eat the bones, but consume the flesh. The Boyl-yas sit at the graves of natives in great numbers. If natives are ill, the Boyl-yas charm, charm, charm, charm, and charm, and by-and-by the natives recover."
The Brewin of Mr. Howitt must have been a Boyl-ya.
The name Boyl-ya calls to recollection at once the word Bulotu (Hades) in the Tonguese Mythology, and the boliauns, or boughe-lawns, mentioned in Irish Folk-lore. On one occasion, Lageniensis, the author of the work (as quoted in the Athenæum, No. 2236, 3rd September 1870, p. 299), assisted at the performance of some mysterious quackery practised by a noted Sheogue doctor, called Paddy the Dash, who was supposed to hold friendly communication with the "good people," for his cabin adjoined one of their raths. The wizard's assistance was invoked in the case of an old woman who had fallen into a decline. "We were but wee bit bodies at the time," says the author, "and have only an indistinct recollection of Paddy drawing out of his coatmore pocket a large black bottle, with two or three packages of brown paper, containing dried herbs and a bunch of boughe-lawns, or boliauns, on which the fairies are said to ride occasionally through the air. The blossoms and tops of these boughe-lawn weeds were put in a porringer, filled with water, that had been left simmering on the kitchen fire. Some unaccountable flourishes were made over the sick woman, then some strokes on her back and forehead, with three shakes—'in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost'—when helped to an upright sitting posture by female friends assisting."
A Gippsland Birra-ark could have done no more than the Sheogue doctor.
It is pleasant to pass from south to north—from the blacks to the whites—in dealing with these superstitions.
