Page:Dawson - Australian aborigines (1900).djvu/99

 remains thus for a few seconds, and, turning round suddenly, disappears in the darkness with a rustling sound. Another dancer takes his place, and goes through the same movements, and disappears in the same way. Then two or three come forward, and dance in a line, and disappear in the darkness. At length all the dancers are seen in a row, quivering and making a great rustling in time to the music, and advancing nearer and nearer to the fire until they come quite close, when a simultaneous loud groan is suddenly given, and the dance is over. The bright light of the fire shining on the white stripes of the dancers against a pitch-dark background, produces a very striking effect. The different tribes dance by turns; they never mingle. The interludes between the dances are filled up by the buffoonery and jesting of one or two clowns, called 'chipperuuks,' chosen for their powers of humour, ready wit, and repartee. These clowns do not perform altogether voluntarily, owing to the manner in which they are treated previous to the korroboræ. They are caught by the orders of the chiefs, and are compelled to live apart in a separate wuurn, without any covering to keep out the cold, but are supplied with plenty of food. The hair of the chipperuuk is cropped off both sides of his head, which are plastered with white clay, leaving a crest of hair along the ridge like the hog-mane of a horse. A stripe of white paint extends from the top of the brow down the nose, mouth, chin, and neck to the waist; and the same behind, from the crown of the head down the spine; another stripe extends down the inside of each leg, terminating in an arrow-point above the ankles. The arms are encircled with three white stripes between the shoulder and wrist. He wears the usual apron and the tail of emu feathers. The chipperuuk enters the circle between the dances, and amuses the people with jokes, and with ludicrous movements in imitation of the gambols of emus, native companions, and other animals. Sometimes he puts on a mask formed of a kangaroo pouch, painted white, and having holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. These are pulled over the head and face, and are often used to frighten children when they misbehave. After the amusements are finished, the chipperuuks visit each wuurn, with a bark torch, and a basket to receive presents of food, which are liberally bestowed. It is now almost impossible to ascertain whether or not the korroboræs held among the tribes referred to, previous to the advent of the Europeans, were attended with indecencies; but the aborigines now alive — and many of them are very truthful and intelligent — declare that there was nothing indecent