Barrn is the name of the he-oak[1] (forest oak), but it also means a certain kind of bewitchment by which the victim is killed. The mode of doing this is called 'making Barrn,' or 'to catch some one with Barrn.' There is a lesser and a greater process. The less is done by finding a place where the intended victim has sat on the ground—the place must be still 'warm.' The spot is then beaten with a Barrn, which is a piece of he-oak about an inch diameter and four inches long, cut to a blunt point at each end; an appropriate song is chanted at the same time. The Barrn thereupon goes mysteriously into the body of the victim, and unless got rid of by a Murla-mullung, kills him. One counter charm against Barrn is this:—
Noomba jellen Barrnda,
which means, 'The sharp Barrn is not to catch me,' and is sung over and over again. The other process is as follows:—A number of blackfellows join together to get rid of some person. They are called Bungil Dowa-gunney, and do as follows:—A place is found where a suitable he-oak grows, about six inches in diameter. The branches are cut off, so as to leave the stem smooth and pointed; the bark is chipped off smoothly; on the ground an extended figure of the victim is drawn, with the he-oak growing out of his head. Sometimes the outline is formed with he-oak branches, buried under the surface of the ground. A Murrawun is stuck into the figure. Three or four trees are then joined by lines marked on the ground from one to the other, and sometimes by stringybark cords, enclosing an area of perhaps eight or ten paces in the side; the surface, inside, is cleared up, and the grass and rubbish piled over the Yambo-ganey or 'double' of the victim, marked under the Barrn tree. This tree is also called Tschu-duck. Everything being thus prepared, the Bungil Dowa-gunney go to the place about two o'clock in the afternoon. They must be perfectly naked, rubbed with charcoal, and with their heads, bodies, and limbs wound round with stringybark cords. They hold the small Barrns I have spoken of in their hands. They then chant for several hours some song which is to have the effect of bringing the victim to the spot. It is believed that when the incantation has been strong enough, the victim finds himself impelled, by a power he cannot resist, to get up wherever he may be, and walk towards the Barrn. He is said to walk like a man asleep; he staggers from side to side, and his eyes goggle out of his head. One song describes them as being Woorburru-mrew-nurrundu, or a 'cranky eye like the moon.'
One of the songs used is this:—
Moon-aug ngi-ay [here comes the name];
Bee-ar lounganda-Barrnda;
which may be rendered thus:—
He is coming along [naming the person];
The Barrn is swinging him about.
So soon as he comes in sight of the Barrn, he walks straight to it, and on entering the marked space the Bungil Dowa-gunney throw their Barrns at him.
- ↑ Casuarina leptoclada: Miquel.
