Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/242

168 superstitious fears of the relatives. Another object of terror to the aborigines is called "koonyoo," who flies about at night, and makes a noise in the trees, but is never seen. This being descends to the earth in the dark, alights upon the body of a man while sleeping, and presses on his liver, causing him to suffer excessive pains, and sometimes producing death. This is nothing more than a supernatural cause to which is attributed the effect of excessive gorging, which the natives indulge in whenever they have the opportunity.

It is remarkable that none of the tribes appear to be under the authority of a chief. A certain amount of influence, however, is exercised by the old men, and by others possessing superior physical strength and courage, as also by those who practise charms.