Page:Dawson - Australian aborigines (1900).djvu/69

Rh approach. The pelican and its eggs are never eaten, but only because they are too strongly flavoured and fishy.

Kokok, the powerful owl, is a bird of evil omen, smells death in the camp, and visits the neighbourhood of a dying person, calling 'Kokok-kokok.' It is therefore hated by men, women, and children. It is of a fierce disposition, vigorously attacking anyone who approaches its nest; and, as it has a strong spur on the carpal joint of the wing, a blow from it is not pleasant. It is also disliked because it kills opossums, flying squirrels, and small animals, the food of the natives. The kokok builds its nest of reeds and sedges in the blackwood tree, and lays three eggs, which are sought after and eaten.

A porcupine ant-eater coming near a dwelling is a sign that someone in it will die before long. The cries of the banksian and white cockatoos announce the approach of friends. An itchy nose indicates a visit from a friend.

If a person imagines that he sees the planet Venus set twice in one night, it warns him of his death before morning. With this exception the aborigines do not predict events from the position of the stars.

The cause of an echo is not understood, but it is supposed to be something mysterious mocking the speaker.

The mantis belongs to the men, and no one dare kill it. Women are not permitted to eat the flesh or eggs of the gigantic crane, or of the emu, till they are old and greyheaded. If a baby is taken near the dead body of a gigantic crane, it is certain to break out in sores.

Pork is generally rejected by the natives because they believe it produces skin disease; but, as swine were unknown before the arrival of the white men, the idea of their flesh being unclean and unhealthy must have been impressed on them by the first settlers, and probably as a means of protecting from depredation their pigs, which were always allowed to run at large.

Strange spears and weapons are reluctantly touched, as it is believed they communicate sickness, and might cause death. It was with difficulty that some of the aborigines could be prevailed upon to take hold of spears, arrows, and clubs from the Society Islands. When the spear or weapon of an enemy has killed a friend, it is always burnt by the relatives of the deceased; but those captured in battle are kept, and used by the conquerors.

Fire caused by lightning is called 'Pillætuung murndall gnat'—'supernatural fire belonging to thunder'—and is shunned, because there is a belief that the lightning hangs about the spot, and would kill anyone going near it. However