Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/167

162 fragrance of the Yanup (Myall) in the nostrils of the yam-loving Ngarous. 

CHAPTER XX.

CONCERNING ABORIGINAL MAGICIANS AND THEIR MAGIC, AS APPLIED TO CURATIVE PURPOSES IN SICKNESS; TOGETHER WITH THE POWER OF INFLICTING SICKNESS ON WHOMSOEVER THEY PLEASE; OF THE NGALLOW WATTOWS (POSTMEN) AND THE PURPOSES WHICH OCCUPY MOST PART OF THEIR EXISTENCE.

In every aboriginal tribe there are usually one or two members who are esteemed learned beyond their fellows; they are termed Bangals (Doctors or Magicians) and are supposed to be endowed with powers far beyond the finite grasp of humanity in general; they are therefore looked upon by the rest of their respective tribes with considerable awe, and no native would knowingly offend one of them, as every such offence would be sure to bring condign punishment on him who had offended.

The functions of these Bangals are various, amongst which bleeding and other surgical operations are not the least As they elect to cure every ill to which aboriginal flesh is heir, from a simple headache induced by overfeeding, up to the severest form of pulmonary consumption, they are seldom without a fair share of patients to attend to; the patients have the most perfect faith in their ministrations, consequently they are as passive and ductile in their hands as so much well-wrought glazier's putty; of