Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/312

 234 THE PORT LINCOLN TRIBE. last two injunctions are scrupulously observed till the men release them about four or five months after, during which time they live and sleep separate from the camp, and speak in whispers. The releasing of the wilyalkinyis consists merely in tearing the string, the symbol of silence, from their necks, and covering them over with blood, in the manner that the men adopt at their bleeding ceremonies; and after that they may be looked upon as perfect adepts in all manner of secrets and admissible to all the privileges of grown-up men. The women and children, as has been mentioned already, are by no means allowed to see any of the above ceremonies. They are on those occasions encamped out of sight of the men; but if their business, in fetching water, wood, or anything else, should bring them within sight, they must cover their heads with cloaks and walk in a stooping posture. Any impertinent curiosity on their part is punishable with death, according to the ancient custom; and I have been told that instances have occurred where this dreadful punishment was actually inflicted. As one more proof what mighty importance the Aborigines attach to their absurd mysteries, I may mention that it is deemed very ignominious abuse, if a person of a higher degree upbraids any one with his still occupying a lower station; warrara purra (still a boy of the first degree only), pardnapa purra (only of the second degree), are very offensive expressions. SUPERSTITIONS AND TRADITIONS. The opinions of the natives with regard to supernatural things and agencies, are very peculiar and interesting. They have as clear a perception of the immateriality and immortality of the soul as could have been expected from them. In order to illustrate the former, they describe it as very small, so minute that it could pass through a crack or crevice; and when a man dies, his soul goes to an island, where it lives in a state so ethereal that it requires no food. Some say that this island is situated towards the east, others towards the west; so that they either do not agree about the locality, or believe in the existence of more than one receptacle for departed souls. On its passage to