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This over, the boys were all ordered to get up, and march round, hands on thighs and heads abased, while they learnt a Boorah song, giving new words for common things, which acted as pass-words hereafter for the initiated. Into a slow chant these words were strung, as the men and boys passed round the ring, two of the oldest men standing beating time with painted spears with tufted tops.
I have often met these Boorah boys in the bush, and on sighting me they have fled as if I were a devil in petticoats. In about another moon's time, the boys were painted principally white, a waywah put on them, a yunbean a piece of beefwood gum with two kangaroo teeth stuck in it, and a hole through it was tied to their front lock of hair.
During the day-time the boys might wander at will, so as they kept clear of the general camp. They might not receive food from nor speak to a woman for twelve months, as if they were monks of Byamee in training. At his second Boorah a young man was allowed to see the sacred fire ceremony, throwing in of weapons, walking on burning coals, and the rest.
They camped in the scrub near the old camp of the tribe who had started the Boorah. That night in the camp the Gayandi was heard again, another ceremony was at hand. The next day the women at the big camp made a big fire, a little distance away. When this fire was nearly burnt out they covered it thickly with Budtha, Dheal, and Coolabah leaves to make a great smoke.
Should young boys be chosen as messengers, they were held in high honour; Woormerh they were called. While the messengers were away, the old men of the tribe in whose Noorumbah, or hereditary hunting lands, the Boorah was to be held, prepared the sacred grounds.
Black women think a great deal of the Moonaibaraban, or as they more often call them, Kumbuy, or sister-in-law. These are spirit-women who come a few days after the Boorah to bring presents to the women relations of the boys who have been initiated.
He would find out who was the chief wirreenun of the tribe, then take him apart, give to him his Boorah message-stick as guarantee of his good faith, and tell him where and when the Boorah was to be held.
Nahgul is the rejected Gayandil who was found by Byamee too destructive to act as president of the Boorahs. He principally haunts Boorah grounds. He still has a Boorah gubberrah, a sacred stone, inside him, hence his strength. He sets string traps for men, touching which they feel ill, and suddenly drop down never to rise again. The wirreenuns know then that Nahgul is about.
He went away into the bush, where he has been a dreaded devil ever since; for if he touches a man's shadow even, that man will itch all over and nothing can cure him of it. He haunts Boorah grounds. Next Byamee made a stone bull roarer sort of thing, but this was too heavy to make the noise he wanted.
She goes up to the old lubra with a look of divine compassion on her beautiful face; the old woman's whine grows louder as she rocks herself to and fro. "Yah marah, Yah boorah, Oh boora Yah! Yah Ma!" "What! old Sally!" says the beautiful girl. "What is the matter? Have you been getting waddy again?" "Baal!" says she, with a petulant burst of grief. "What is it, then?" says Alice.
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