Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/357

Rh incessantly till sunrise, and so continue for a week or more. Should the weather be cold when a native dies, fires are lighted near the grave, so that the deceased may warm himself, and often they place food for him to eat. Invariably after a death they shift their camp, and never after speak of or refer to the defunct.

MOOKOOELLIE DUCKANA.——(Bone Strike, or Death Spell.)

The words at the head of this chapter are derived from Mookoo (bone) and Duckana (strike), the compound word implying struck by a bone. As no person is supposed, from whatever cause, to die a natural death, but is conjectured to have been killed, either by one of a neighbouring tribe, or of his own, men, women and children are in constant terror of having offended some one who may therefore bear them enmity. Thus, so soon as a native becomes ill, a council is held solely to ascertain who has given him the bone. Should he remain a considerable time without a change, or his malady increase, his wife, if he has one, or if he has not, the wife of his nearest relative, is ordered to proceed to the person who is supposed to have caused the sickness. She does so, accompanied by her paramour (whose relationship is explained elsewhere), and on arrival immediately makes a few presents to the person suspected of her relative's illness, but makes no accusation against him, contenting herself with simply stating that her relative is fallen ill, and is not expected to recover; whereupon he sympathises with her, and expresses a hope that the invalid will soon be well again. He knows, however, perfectly well, though not accused, that he is suspected of having caused the malady; and, on the following morning, acquaints the woman that she can return to her relative, as he would draw all power away from the bone by steeping it in water. Accordingly the woman carries back the joyful tidings that she has seen the party who has the bone, and he has promised to take all the power out of it. Now, should the invalid happen to die, and be a person of any influence, the man who acknowledged to having the bone is V 2