Page:Native Tribes of South-East Australia.djvu/608

582 those of flying-foxes on the branches of the trees, of bees flying about, of curlews, and of many other creatures. It seems to me that in these we may see the survivals of the totems which have otherwise disappeared in this tribe; and this doubtless represents a still more advanced stage towards the obliteration of the social organisation than is shown by the totems of the Kurnai and Yuin.

Besides these representations of animated creatures there are others. For instance, the men twist ropes of grass and make disguises of them. Mounds of grass are also built up in the centre of the cleared space, round which the men dance. Another is that the men stand in a row with fire-sticks in their hands, and wave them about. The Kippers are told that the whole country is on fire.

At the later part of the ceremonies, the Kippers are no longer covered up but walk about, being now initiated, and accompany the men to the new camp where the women and children are, and which has been made at some place fixed upon beforehand. Here there is a ceremonial fight between the several clans of the tribe, which the Kippers see, but do not take a part in.

The last ceremony of all is that a large circle is made on the fighting ground, with a fire in the middle of it, to which the Kippers are brought. There they find all their mothers (own and tribal), each with a branch in her hand, dancing together. On seeing them, the women throw the branches down, and each rubs down the back of her son with a bunch of grass, and goes away. The man who, as the Bujerum, has charge of the Bribbun, comes and shows it to the boys for the first time, also giving to each one a small one called Wabulkan, which is a sort of warrant to them and others that they have been initiated. It is supposed to possess, but in a smaller degree, the magical power and virtue of the larger one, the Bribbun, and is carefully concealed by the owner.

At one part of the ceremonies the Bujerum holds up a large quartz crystal and makes it flash in the sunlight. The Kippers are told that it came from Maamba, and that those who swallow a piece of it will be able to fly a long