either to the words of the old men or to those of the missionaries."
The Preliminary Ceremony.—In the afternoon of the day on which the first ceremony of the Jeraeil, called Telbing, or "wattle-bark," was held, the oldest woman,[1] the wife of the second Headman, called the other women together near the camp; and, having then summoned to her the Tutnurring (novices),[2] proceeded to drill them, as also their Krauun,[3] in the performances. It was, in fact, a rehearsal. The boys were seated cross-legged in a row with their arms folded, and were told by the old women to keep their eyes cast down, and not to stare about; also to mind and keep good time to the drumming by the women. The Krauun were placed in a row just behind the Tutnurring, and were instructed to copy their movements exactly. The women now commenced to drum slowly on their folded rugs, and in accord with the time the two rows of seated figures moved their bodies sharply first to one side and then to the other, at the same time reclining the head almost on the alternate shoulders. One boy, who was not quite quick enough in his movements, was told by the old woman to "move more sharply, as if some one were tickling him." After some practice the old woman thought the performance satisfactory, and told the boys to go away and rest themselves.
During the day the Jeraeil ground had been selected by the Headman in an open space about a quarter of a mile from the camp. All the little bushes were chopped up, and the ground cleared of sticks and rubbish.
About sundown, the Headman gave the word to commence, and walked off into the forest, followed by the men. The old woman walked to the Jeraeil ground, followed by the women and by the novices, who were attended by one of the Bullawangs.[4] This man being a cripple was
- ↑ Gweraeil-Rukut; Rukut = woman.
- ↑ The novices are called Tutnurring during the ceremonies; afterwards they are Brewit (young men) or Jeraeil.
- ↑ The Krauun is one of those women who stand in the relation of "sister" to the Tutnurring. For instance, she is his "tribal," if not "own," mother's brother's daughter. In other words, she is the "tribal," if not "own," sister to the Bullawang. See following note on "Bullawang."
- ↑ The Kurnai name for the Australian robin (Petroica multicolor). Pointing to one of these birds, an old man said to me, "That is the policeman who looks after the boys." The birds Bullawaug, Yiirung, and Djiitgun are said to be three of the "leen muk-Kurnai" ("real Kurnai ancestors").
