Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/169

164 Of course any information he may be pleased to give at those times, as being the result of his conference with Konikatnie, is fiction pure and simple concocted by himself whilst absent from the tribe; it is necessary, however, if he should retain his power in the tribe, that he should from time to time fabricate such romances as are calculated to have that effect, and, without doubt, the ability which they possess and display in this description of literary composition is truly marvellous.

Arabian tales, of good and evil genii, are as nothing compared to the wonders related by these imposters; and the utter ignorance of the aborigines, together with their extraordinary superstitious beliefs, induces them to give perfect credence to whatever these charlatans may be pleased to advance. The manner in which they graduate for the office of Bangal is somewhat peculiar, and it requires the display of great daring, besides the possession of much moral courage on the part of a would-be candidate to carry out the programme to a successful issue. When a Bangal dies, and has been buried, a Loondthal (hut) is neatly erected over the grave, and whoever has sufficient temerity to seek the vacant office of the defunct, must go at sundown, the first night of the new moon, and place himself in the mausoleum, and thus remain until sunrise the following morning. This proceeding has to be repeated every night until the moon has waxed and waned, and if he successfully undergoes the loathsome ordeal without flinching, he is deemed to have graduated satisfactorily, and is consequently inducted forthwith to the vacant office with its train of honours, duties and privations; and of