TH.~ HIST011Y OF BULGA , NS~: . 820 t o 921 . / ~ ..

Al exander Eather .

~· Bu ga , i an anc i ent abor "[ i nal name s ign i y ing mo nta i n or mounat i no s gi ven t o it ong. a g o ; ong befor e the w it e man wan ere ct over the range . I t was thus the peaceful prosperous lit t e v "llage l yi ng unrte r t he she l ter of t e Bu ga mounta i ns erive d it s name . Its or i g i na l di s cover a t ed wi th t he " i s c ovlry of Patr i cks Plai ns

i n March ,18 9 , Bulga being ~ he first p ace reache y Howe , Si ngleton , Thorley 8 rd others l eav i ng t he ranges .The exp orers descende fro~ a spur · n \ We lsh 's I n l e t on the t'< i l lbrodale Est a t e , near or on the pr o perty 0' 'ned by Hr L :to s.

After it s or i e "na l di scovery , it s f i r st p i oneers , of whom t here i s an authent ic record . were ?'r and Br s Thom~ s Eat her , sen , Mr \"l i ll i am NcA l pi ne , sen , Lr hcA l p i ne be i ng then a boy of 16 . The j ournc wa rna e from Ri chmond , through Colo , Putty an Howe ' s Va l ley , be i ng under t aken on foo t , a bul l ae being u sed i n li eu of a pack hors e . In t e same year--1 6- -Mr Eat h ~returned wi th h i s wif e an e l est ch ild- -the a t e Mr Th omas Ee t her , who was then a babe i n arms . For a number of years t he or i g i a l set t l er ( Mr Thomas Bather) res i ded a t Bulga , hav i ng acqu i red a grand t of land from t h e CroHn .

Mr Kc Al p i ne also returned i n the year 1842 wi t h h i s wi fe an e l dest chi ld --~r "llia m McA l p i ne-- to take up h i s res i dence a t Bu l ga , where he rem i ne unt il hi s eeth i n 1902 .

Se t tlement qu i ckly allowed as the rou t e taken by t he p i oneers was used as t he ~ai n thoroughfare for travel l " ng s t ock from the Northern d L c; tr i c t s of NS'/ t o Sy"ney . The f i r~t settlement was on the fert ile land ad j o i ning t he Cockf i eht er Creek .

The pr i ncipal la ndholders \-Jere Rev Hr Hi l l , who faun ed the Hi l l bro a l e Est a t e ; Mr Wi ll i ams , Nr Parne l l , ?t,r a t on , Nr :t-1cAl p i ne , Hr Jos e ph Onus and h i s t wo sons (Wi l i am and Joseph .

The escription g i v e n of Bulg by the early s e ttler~ is o f ope~ , wcl _- gra &s ed for e:=- lands to the _oa t of the mountai ns) . Tht-. t i mber was mos t ly large wi th - l most ar ent i re absence o-~' s c rub and undc.rP"rowth . ~ i s Has accountc for t he bush fires \·!hi ch regular y svept the countrysi de dur i ng the r y scaons .

Thw Cockf i ght er Creek ~resent ed a very i ferent appearan c e t o tge early ettlers to i ts present st at e ~ bei ng then deep and narrow , 1i th a lt ernat e s t re t ches

of deep wat er and sand . At that t i me , as at present 1 the banks of the creek vere fr i nged wi th b i g shady oak trees . Thi s creek was the mai n water s~pply of the res i dent s .

In it s v i c i n i ty v1anderi ng tr i bes of b l acks ( a~o'i. g i nal s) v/ere to be seen on the s it es of the i r old camps . The stone i mpl e ments of t i s stra ee rac e are found to - day; the mut e ev "denc e of a bygone age when the savage roamed a t wi l , hunted and fought , and 1 " ved hi s li fe untramel l ed by ·rh i te rna .'fhe i mpress of t e savage :ll s still to be seen i n the nar.1es of c ertai n geograph.ical l andmar ks .Thus "Meerea" i s t he 1!11Mll!t'lm orr;;inc ebor i g i na l name of one of the Bul g .s mounta i ns . "Do oli rwi ne" i s the name o f a bi g waterho l e near the prese nt reside nce ·of Messrs ~l exandcr Brot~er s on the Mount Leonard Estate . "By-yang" i s the name o a agoon i n the vi c i ni t y of "Donli rw "ng" , a so on the Mount Leonara Estate ,.,rhere the savages hunte \Vild foiiilL, and knovn today as the "Horse Shoe" . "Gi ral i " i s t e name of a u l y f o ring i nto the Cockf i ghter near the res i dence of Mr Samu e l Pa~tridge .

From an ethnological s t andpo i nt , Bulga i s an i ntensel y i nterest i ng l ocal ity , for many beaut.ifu ly-m de stome i mplement s are f aun today , throw i ng cons i erable li~ht on t he y li fe o t he ear l y savage .

Here also i s seen the remai ns of an anc i ent "Bora" ground , 'Tith it s sacre c i rc l e s ti ll def i ned by sma mounds o f eart , and a r i ng of carve d tre e s , stil be ~ring the cur i ouo embl emat i cal dev i ces wh i ch marked th "s st r , ge and mystoca l cerempn of i i t i at i on to tr i bal r i ght s . T. i s "Bora" ceremony 1rras held i n the year 852 . 0n rel i aJ l e aut or i ty p f r es i dent s of t he l ocal i ty i t was a tt ended

y b e tween 5 C an 600 b l acks from the var i ous tribes as f ar away as ~udgee a nd Gou l burn .I t i s a l so interest i ng to not e t hat du r i ng yhe month s this Bor a was be i ng he l d no recorc i s i n exi stence that can be traced of a s i ng l e c r i me o r outrage be i ng perpet rated on any of the whit e set t J ers ,t h ough t hey . u st hav e b 7 A~ completely at the mercy had the b l acks prov ed h ost ile . Th _ Hhit e sett lers wer e r~g~ d ly

l3 ga "'~o

nor wou l d • ~ingle abor i g i na di vu ge whCJt tra nspir ed . In 1 t r years , ho-.,ever ,

consid~rab e sc ientif "c l ight ha~ been thrown on the rnatter , an "t i s thouv,ht to a ve been t e ast mus e r o~ th~ various tribes who att ended th i s part i cu ar c erem ny befor~ the alv- .c of ,},i te. It iu strange a so ho~ s t r ong wa s t~e po 'er of th i s ~ora

on the abor i g inq s , a 1 fue s being ~ aside for the t i me being . It i s def i nit .1 known th~t orne t i m~ before i n ~ trib~1 fip t two b l acks were ki led near the pr sent re i dence of Nr •/ oods . ~\'\\.--I) ( dominant )'

Th e ear l y life of the sett l er1ent of white peep e at Bulga wa i ndeed strenuous ; a ] ~he c ourage , enterpr i se and resourcefulness of a s trong character were

necesFary to make life a success , so f a r r emoved from the centres of civ i i sat i on . Some ide a of the hardsh ips experienced can be gathered from he fact tha t all the ne~essar ies of i fe required from the outside world had at that t~me to be conv eyed a d i stanc. of about 100 miles . he greater part of thi s d ista ~ce was over ro gh , broken mountqi n ranges;thc only means o f transport be ing a pack horse of bullock,with only a track t mark the wa .I n ater years , however , sup ples were obtai ned rom the sett l ement i n the Lower Hunter . Then the real progress of B lga commenced .

The st ock brought to Bulga i d remarkably we l , and were dr i ven back to Ri chmond and W"ndsor as occ asion demanded .Int ercourse was thus kept up,and new settlers arr i ved

and a cquired l an . Ma i ze and \vheat were gro1.m for food .These were ground in sr:1R 1 ~ill en~ i n stores by the settlers themselves . Meat was .airly plenti ul , except in t i mes of rought . P i gs vrere also ra is ed for Pe<IK. an ham . Considerable trou le was exper i enced i n ra i sing them , ho~ever , the countr swarming with d "ngoes from whi c h they ha to be carefully guarded .

Th · most terrible Grought exper i enced by Bulga was between the years 1848-851 . 0n authent i c authority the 1hole of the Cockfighter Creek at Bu ga and even

long stretchrs of the Hunter Ri ver were dry.' el s 111ere sunk i n the be o+' the Cock­fighter to wat er s tock;in places the water be i ng ten feet under the surfac e . Round

t ese we ls at ni ght famished cattle roared or water . The sett ler s for the most part obtained the i r rinking \va ter from the ho e previously m8ntioned aa "Dooli rt~ i )tg" .. T'li s

i s a spring ' , ich h~s never be~n kn om to fc.il . P~op l ~ C"r e to this c- t~r from near ~mbo miles aw~y on the one s i de and Parsons Creek d i strict mi es on the other .

Tho&e for t unate enough to have worki ng bul ocks a live drew their water casks o n s lides ;t hose less fortunate rol ed them to the i r homes .

Most of the stoc were remove to "Darkey" in the Howe ' s Vn ley d i stri ct and turned l o• e e where rough feed was procurable.A cons i erabl e number , howev r ,

died .' lhCJ. t cattle could be found of the surv i vors v"ere mustered and brought b.3ck to Bulga when the d ought broke i n 1 51 . Bushes and kAngaroo grass cut on thP mountai n

shelves were used to keep a l ive stock retai ned by the settlers . Sheaves of thi s kangaroo grass were a lso so d at Si ng eton for fodrler for starving stock . During 1857 very l ittle rain fell , the who e cou trys i de be ing little more than a desolat e

was:t: e . The 1hea t crops so urgently needed for h .an food i n fortunate cases ~~ew about a foo t h i gh . ThiP as carefully gath~red , threshed with a flail , ground for f l our ,

mixed ·it h what ittle ma i ze meal was procurab e and baked for bread .

The education of chi rlren WRS a probl em wh i ch earnestly engag~d the attention of settlers . 'i i th their usual enterpri se an resourc~ ulnlss , holevcr , thi s

was overcom~ to al o the chilrre n a i mite e ucat "on .Thc ~erv ce sof Mr Jon Wagst aff , an o d Fngli sh g~ntleman , employed as tutor i n the far i y of Kr John

Eaton , were engaeed. ij i s schoolroom •as a hut stan i ng on the bank of t e lagoon prev i ously ment ioned as "By-yang'' and nm-v knO\ n as the "Horse Shoe' • esides the members of ?~r -laton's fam i ly , some of th neighbours ' chi rcn were also taught.

This was the year about 1850. s th~ chi rlre n of the ~ett F.ment incre sed , the schoo l was removed a fev years later to an old builrl i n~ s iturted where some acac i a strees are st i 1 grow i ng on the eastern bank of the Cockf i ght r Crcek ,just below

~ere the Bu gr br i dge no ~ standE .Th i s was the f irEt village sc oo at Bu ga.A mov ement was set amongst th~ progressi ve ~embers of t he community to erect a churc h and

s c oo l room .An acre of l and was donated by tr John =aton fo c urch and chool Ian and a c emetery .Previo s to thi s the dead were bur i 0d where fancy d ict ate ~ a a number near the "Horse Shhoe ."

Bu ga three

~r hil i am ~cA pine sen--kno n i . h i s honoured o d age a s th e gran ~ather of Bu lga --an i an old mnn i n · s employ name ~ oodbury , cut and split the tumber

the building , ,v .• icl was of s l ab a l ,, anrl of s i ng e roo . The til"'ber was dr;:l' ·'n ._,.."'"""'..._.,._ by r • iJliam Cl a rk , sen. he erection of thr buil~ ing was pai d for by b ic

1 oth~r abour in connection with it bring volmntary . It was erected ne~r of S t ~~ark's Church of Englo.nd , Bulg. , about the year 1R56 , anrl served th"'

combined purpore of church and school .In th. year 79 the pres~nt pub ic school was erec t c and St r.arks Church i n 18 .?.The nld builr ing was then demo i shed .

crool was he l d by Mr Jagstaff in the old buil ing for a number of years , m On h "f d a t h he was succeeded by Mr Alaton who was i n turn o l lowe by Mi s th8 fir~t t eacher under the Public Servic e Act .I n rotation o lowed Mi ss Maxwe , ,

t'r Fawcett , Mr ~~ · t chell , Hr Deane , Mr Moore , t•lr Read , 1r ·watts , Mr C mpbell, Mr Berrett , t-.r Grnherr-.

The P Pt r i cks Pla i ns S ir e was e tablished i n 1904 , Bulge being inc u ed i n "C" Ri d i ng .

Humble an brave as was the be~inning of Bulga as a settl ~ ment a~vanc ing

slow y and painful ly through privat i on and hardsh ' p to a prosperpus and pr pgressive

villa&e , enjo ing the b essi ngs of civilisation. It seems herd to re& ise that such c rnplete changes could be ,·rought on t he face of the and in the space of a century

Proud is i n eed the record of the pione~rs who dared a l l and suf i ered pat i ently to form the new settlement 6 far remove t en fran t e i r ol homes.Prou is i ndeed Bulga of the Memor i al Gates , of its recreation groun~ ,paid for by p b ic s bscription

an erec t td vo untarily by ~r George Patr i dge · --a re i~ ent of the d i strict i n 920 - -as a monurrent to the mer1ory of :-o anv of i ts rave me 1ho fo ght an

A u

died in thP G eat 'nr . For ~he mo~t part they .cr. s .cend nn s of its set t ers , men

w o rna e goori , o •.;ere not one "'hit i nfer i or in courage , ent erpr i se , re.sp urce -fu eSG and nobi it of r:harac t er to the brave , undau ted men WhO t r n ed the i r

backs tot eir o d homes to wrestle with the wil .erness . -"'I:::: BORA

In Australi a boy c and g i r s reach maturity at a somewhat ear ier age than in t e colder lat i tudec of Zurope and J\merica . But to a black la matur it y i s a per i od of uch ant i c i pation ,for ~hen he lays as i de his state of pupilage as h i s ' other ' s boy , and enters the tri b~ , but on y throu~h certai n ceremonies of i i tiat · on whi ch "make a man" of h i , anrl t ereby iv e · i m the ual i f icat i on and th,_, r i ght to "iCt

as a member of the tribe. These ceremoni es are in this part of Australia ca le BOr~ ; an , "is that name has been use in Engli sh books s i n c e the ear i est sett l e­ments in thi s und ,i t has establ i sh€d a prescript i on rieht to recognition , an~ i s understood everyvhere . It seems , therefore , unnecessary to use any other nP e or it mere y oting t~at i n various pl aces it has variouo other name . But wi th come m"nor if ~ercnces in the mode of admi nistrat i on the Bora exi sts everywhere throughout Auctral i a; "t can ther fore be conclu d that i t belongs to the who e

race , a

at i on brought

i s an essent i al attribute of it s exi stenc e .

/h.n a boy approaches the age of pubert , a fee ling of restless ant i cipit­spreads over h i s mf n or h i s knovJS that h i s grow i ng manhoo has

h i rr- to the thre chol o~ ceremoni es o. myster io s i mport ,t hrough whi ch

he ~·s to be orrnal y rece iv ed into the tr i be , and therefore to a c qu i re the dignity of a man . ~he r ite F of i nit i at ion are important , numerous an pro onged; and as h i s admi sEi on does not concern h i mself and h i G farni y merely but the who l e t r ibe , these observahces call together arge Hssemb <:",ges , and are occas i ons of : enera l rejo i ll i ng .

Th i s assemb y--the most so emn an un~que i n t he tribal lif e - - is c a ed

fhe BorP . The who l e proceed i ngs are essent ia l genera l features and teachings , but the detai s

the same ever where i n the i r vary among the different tribes ,

Bu ga four

Therefore ,' nstead of a s pparate narrative for each tribe , it wi 1 be endeavoured to present a fu view of the Bora , ta ing one trib~ morle as the

basis of de<cr i p ' on , bu t ingroduc i ng from the other tr ' bes such features as appear to be needc to compl~te the significance of the ceremonies.

The ch i efs of a tribe know that some boys are of an age to be i nit i ated; they ~ccording y su~· on to them +he p b ' c messenge~ or her ld » and bi d h ' m i nform t e other sect ions o the tribe that D Bor<> ·i 1 b(: held at a certain time an place,the +i me being near the full moon , an~ the ace be i ng usually a well - kno1n Bora ground. They also send h ' m r.way to i nvite the neighbouring tribes to attend , Thi s i nvitation is read i y acccpted , for a l though thP. tribes may be at variance with each other uni versal brotherhoo prevai s ar.ongthc blacks at such a t ' m as that . The ay appo i nted for the gatherine i s , perhaps, a month or t~o d i stant , and the ' nterveni ng t i me is fi led wi th bu sy preparations

b the lea i ng men of the novices' tribe.They select a sui tab l e piece of ground , near a waterhole if possible , ?and leve for conven ~nee i n sitt i ng or 1 i ng on.Two circular enclosures are then armed an cleared of a 1 timber , even of every b ade of grass--a larger and a smaller , with a straight track connect i ng them . The smaller or sacred circle is about a q arter of a mi e up the r i ge,an well out of the ~ght of the other;an i n those that have s inc e been examined the path or track between the two e ire es i s du east and west , or nearly so . T e trees that gro~aroun the smaller circ l e they carve , perhaps up to twently feet rom the ground wit h curious emb l emat ic evices and f i gures . The circuit of each ring is def i ned by a slight mound of earth aid around , and ' n th centre of the larger one t ey f i x a short pole wi th a bp nch of emu feathers on the top of it.

~hen these arranguments are camp e t ed the cer moni es s1 ul begi n , but there i R often considerabl e ~elay .Thc cause of such de a· will appear from the words of a friend o". mine:" .le ad some young b acks i n our house .50

ears ago , an the oldrr blAck~ woul d come to use and as us to allow t ese lads off for~ t ' me to be made 'boom at' . Somet ' rnes the boys would be aw&y for the best part of a year . Sometime the old men would bring back the boys in a short time , saying that things werdnot ready fpr the Bara , that the other blackswere slo in corning p , and that' the cere.nonies coul not go on then.But usually all the en , the la and the ' di ns ' went off together to the appoint ed p ac c c of meet i ng . At n i ght ti e where ever they camped severa o the men wou go off in differ ·t d i rections and make fr i ghtsome no i ses a l aroun~ ,

scar ' ng the 'jin~' almo~t out of the i r wits qnd awing the ~oy~ . T~u~ at .rs would o on until they reach~ the big camp of assembly . "

A Lnrge concourse i s there .The men stand with their bo ie s pa i nted i n stri pes of colour , chi efly red an >.rhit e .The ''omen , who are permi tted to be present at the openi ng ceremony only,are lyi ng prone on the gro1nd all round the arger r i ng , and are covcre all over with rugs and c oaks .

The boy , pPinted red all over--I say boy. , buj several boys may be ini tiated at once--t he boy i s broueht forwar and mad~ to lie down in the mi rile of the ring anrl covered ith a pousum rug . Such of the old men who have been appointed mesters o~ the ceremonies n~1 beg ' n t throw him into a state of fear an~ awe by sounding a i n trument called "tir ·i kot " simi ar .._o what an .::::nr, i sh boy call a bull-roarer . In Central Afr i ca a whi stle i s used similar~ y as a sa red inFtrument , and something oi mi ar seems to have een use i n the mysterie & of lncient Greece .In 'ustralia the ~en use 't irri oty'' on al occasi ons they wish to fr i ghten women an the boys , ~ho cower wi th fear whenever they he~r it.

"One on occ3:.- i on , " sa i a friem1. '.'a number of b ~cks Here orkin,. in a corn­fi el d near the ?rrington Bora , a ittle boy be~an to sauna h ' s toy bu ~-rp~rcr .

The back· a l too to their heels . A few , ho~ever , rushed up to h i m and sai :

'Bae (no' ou do that; th3t' s one of our Gods . " It i s not lawful or anyone to handle · t ex(t.pt those v•ho have been i nitiate d i n the Bora • It i s made of a thi n piece of wood or bark of a tree.It i E nine to t e vc inc es ong and it is sometimes s ape and marked as to make ' t look lik~ a f i sh , The roarin so nd is sup,ose to be t~e voice of a ~re ded evil spirit, who prow l s

Bu ga f ive

aPout the camp a t n i ght nd carr i es of f and de tY ours t ho s e b l acks he can se iz e . v "hen the per f omers t h ink that the "boombat" (c:.eJ they ca l e the nov ' ce) has been suffi c i ent l y i pr ssed ;~t il'tikoty11 ceases to speak .T'l<>y then rai se the boy f rom the grounl i n such a manne that h i s ace · s turned to1ar ds t he c Lared track whi ch l e'3.ds to t he c i rc l e of i mag-ery . Thcn an o l d man comes for\:ard , breaths strongly i n h i s face , and makes i m cast h i s eyes on t he ground , for i n thi s humbl e att it ude he must cont i nue ~or several days .

Two othAr o d men next take the boy by the arms and ea h i m a ong t he track and set hi ~ i n the mi .dle of the other enc os re . As soon as thi o i s (one , the women r i se from the i r prostrate posit ' on a~' begi n to dance ad s i nv, . The Nurr ' ngg-ar i t r i be , on our south- eas t c oast , plac e\a l ong th ' s t rac or pat"' some fi gures , mou dcd i n eArth , o var i ous ani mals (totems) and one of Dharamulan , a ap i r i t Go who~ they reverenc e . Before each of these f i gures the devotees have a dance ; and a kara j i , med ic ine man or doc t or , br i ngs up through h ' s mouth , appar~nt y from h i s stomach , the " j oca" , or mo i c of the totem before whi ch they then stand . For the por cup ' ne he shows stuff l i ke cha l k , for the kangaroo stuff l i ke g l ass , and so on .

Meanwhile , the boy has bten s it t i ng i n the smaller circ l e wi th downcast eyes . He i s to d to r i &e an i s led i n suc cessi on to each of the carved trees and arounrl i t , an is told to lao up for a ~anent at the c rv i ngs on them , w~ i c'l he does so ; and wh · e he 1oes so the ol~ men ra i se a shout . When he'come to kno~ al the carvi n g s suff i c i en t l y the men g i ve h i m a new name , whi c must not be revea cd to the un- i ni t i a t ed an +hey han h i m a litt e bag contai ning one or ~ore stones of cryste quartz .

Th i s bag he ''ill a vays carry about on i s person , an~ the stones must not be shown to the un ' t i aJed on ~he pain o ~ deat • This conrludes the fi rst part of the performance .

A fi r e i s kept con~tantly i n h1 centre of thi s upper r i ng . The boy i ~

made to lay w' th i n ~he r i ng prone on the groun for weeks;he may be gett i ng o l a very i t t l e -~''oo and \·Jater nO\/ and then . · hen he vi shes to go outsi de the ol d men carr h i m over the rai sed bor dP.r of the r i ng .

One black boy tol me that when he was i ni tiat ed he J01nP. the assemble crowd i n the mon::h of August and d i d not ge t awa tiD -lmost Xmas .

/hen the rnen in charge of ~he acred c i r c le at l ast ba e h i m to rise from h i recumb~nt posit ion , he sai ~ he was so weAk that he stag~ere and fel .He sa s '1 was kept t o or three we·':ks amon. t t' • "''!!£ n c.t the o<:t r ci"'cl b c· l.s"' the otter young men from th·~ t,...ibe 11ere not rea y an had not come up ; that the •1omen there l i e flat , cov~r,d up •• i t posso~ cloaks , sheets of bark an the l ike , and dare not lock up; t he the ''boor.1oat' i s among them , pai nted all over vTith rud l e ; th t n b l ack man keeps runn i g around the circ l e sound i ng 't i rri oty" ; that the "boomb.::::.t " i s t 1en tak~n from t e ~or.1en i nto the c ent re of the circ l e and kept ther e a shor t t i me - ­perha~s a quur t er o~ an hour-- anrl i s hen l ed away t o th upper c i rc l e wher e the old m~n 3.re . A 1 tr, i s w ' le t he "boombat" keeps h i s eyes "aston the ground and must not l ook up . On approachi g the sacred c · rc l e e was to d now to look up a t the marked trees an then l ook down aga i n .

~ informant s i ad : " over , an~ k~pt l y i ng peep out, but neR~ ly

When I vJas put with "n the r ' ng I was nade l i e dO\·'n , covered t'lere on the ground :or three months . :,everal times I tr i ed to

lost my l i fe for i t , or they threa t ened to (il me wi th spear .f

Other boys th~ t i me accord i ,

are not kept so ong as three months. The o d n.en regu .. at e to the strength of the boy~All thi ~ i s ad~itiona eviCence

corroborati ng o: vJhat I no· i

the i n~orffiat " on I got from at er ~larters , for a conGiderabl e portion te = about the Bora i s new and comes from my own invest i gat i ons .

The "boombi t" i s next conve e , bl i ndfo ed , to R large camp , a t a distance of several mi les , no women be ' ng near , and ood i s g i ven to i m , ~hi ch i s eRts , s+i with his eyes cast down . Hcre they kce h i m for e i ght or ten days anrl t each h i m the i r tr i ba l l ore by showi ng h i m the i r danc es and the i r songs .T 1ese he e~rns , esp c i nl .y

one song , of wh i ch I can te l no~hing ot her than that i t i s i mportant ~ a~ the boy to know i t . These songs , t_ ~.;.y se:.y , ·1ert.. g i ven to them by "Buyemai ' , the

Bul ga six

great creaior • .A t night , durin~ t 1i s period , the "boomba t " is set a l one i ~ sec lu dd a arksome pl aces , and al l aroun hi m th 1m~n mak~ hi deous no i ses , at whi ch he

must not betra th least s i gn of fea . At s ome part p f t~c c eremon~ a sacred wand ~ i s shown to hi m. -

( Inset of Rirlley quotation check) .

Another conspf cuous part of the i nrer Bora cu.toms i s t c knocking out of one or more of the u per front teet h of the "boombat" . ':'hiE: is ,ffecte by a sma!'t b OvJ

wi th a ··ooden punch appli ed to the teeth. But the o der an more correct seems to ave been fo one of the older men of the tribl) to apply his lower teeth to the

upper front t eeth of the yo ng man ;if that fail ed ,t he mal l t and punch were used .

"On one occasion , " sayR my fr i end" , a b l ack boy i n our service came back t p us from t he ora .I ob nerved that h i s tooth was not out an I asked hi m why.

' 0 , he sai • '0 c Boney no good;he trie three times and near y bro e his O'-m tooth , and so he gave it u .' "

As t o the tooth i tself ; one c~ount says that it i s g ' ven to the l a ' s rr.o t er an she afterwards burns i t. Another sa s i t i s conve e from one sub-t ~ibe to anot ijer until i t has ma e the c i rcuit o the who e of the tribe , and on its return i t i s either given to it s o•,rncr or kept by the hea man . Thi s tooth- reaking , however , i 8 not practisP by some of the larger tribe~;but ,inst ead , there i s circumc i s ion or .utt i ng of the hair.

Al l these formalit i eo being now compl eted the "boombat s"

probation · sat an end . hey now procee , a l of them together , to a large water­he e and jumpi ng in,men and boys , they wash off the colouring matter rom the i r bod i es ami d mu ch glee and noise and merr i ment , anr< ,.,hen they come out of the water they paint themselves whit e .

l e m·r il(; , the or,en , ho h2.ve cc.n C"ll<:d t or .c r..e their ~·.tten ·once , ho.ve in~. _d ~ , ~rgE 1re not fur off and ~r e lying xound it,with t e i r f~ces on

the ::;round ~.nd the i r bod ics covered t s 2.t f i rst .The tHo ol( be::1. ·:ho nr:;rc the ri :.,-:. 1 'l i 1:iti '.tors o~ ins t hr= bey at G. n n tov!~~rds the fire,fo;_}_owed by :,_ l J. t he

ot' r"" '. ,_ vo~ce"' · ct ' . , t b t ' · ··"- "" , . Lo. - ' 1 n c~a Sl.L€::.1 , u n2 nng <. n is c by beatino- the i "bumer ·1~:::" toc;eL1er.':!:'l,c m'?n joir.. hnnds nnc1 form e. ri:og c:..round the fi rc , 2.nc. one ole . "11 runs .· ncide the ring be;:;.t ing <.:. G 1i ·-· . • A rome.n , u"" ~tllv the oy ' s O':'n r.iOtl-J.dr,th. .n stc- s '.' i thin the r ine; , :mel. cr~in:.; hir.1 un cr -:'1~: c.rns l i fb: him f:::-c 1 t 1l •o '...··ounc1 nee , setc hi J d~··•n ,1nd t 11en rot ired . ~T-very m"n =-'res. ::1.t , the boy includ...:c,n' ~ u·n _ s on the decaylng err!bers until the firE. i s c::t in~uishcd.

In cov obor~t ion of •nc y fri ~!1'1 ''ho t~ibc .~! it ~ hQbits:

l l this, I g i vq the follow i ng froth is 'ooyhc,ou. uc..s fe.:rliJ.i -:. r

state~e~t ~ade to kme with th3 Kur~ing-ga i

J ~~-_:sf'!v:n

c".'o lLre· isf n. n ·I""' t'L -, .. PC:..· :1·· ·n·· in

.... . ' ..... 0'.1 ..,.,1.( I,

A •11_;_ t 0 ./..

lC i-=i~~ tr '-'

.. .,., · sc~ 1 rl.e:-:;c.nri f.·o~. t'1 ~- 1 '1ts 11 .. '

J. :.re ~nti ··r. c refu, · J co'~' , ~ it h c () ·-.':'· , no t o k u . 1 f o s rw r 1 r , _ c 1-: j -~ _ c . .' . r ir;. t

eire o! :·ro. tr .':: o:.c 1 1 re dy 0 l-:..1: t' 0!'1 n ~ n on n C'cc .-;i-- 1• h

,. R co 'l:l-ed to ~o., · 1~

eire 0 •

1~ ,,··ct.s '"'nc' -;;he i· h .nd~ "rc ru nine

·.~ '·'.·:·y G. r · to lao .• r 1 :. ck =- .r r· "lt t ~ .s e

Oi l' r _-·~or rl :· I' nd o ~ b . c •. · 1 r:r 1 ns

ion

hunc red rr () 7. ~ · " •i t'l Cll~.y CO!"' out Or fh r ·v::.ne • 'i'he ·bo ··~ c:l't 210"'t c n e rcco,r.." .. d.\ 1 - the n c rc. in t , ·· :: i ,, t o t r i k ~ t h · m t o c: ~ 1 "::- · b l f o :::- e , bu·~ t'· ir He -!'on::- ,t' ci":' '~ · i T! 'c'~ .. ir l!r ir , •inb" vhitc.T -:.ey,Jco. , "' ro·ch the ~·:i.re ,.:>hc•.ttinc, •iJo ... , Oul:l,bo, 11

1 "'.n' ov:.·:l[; ':l1 ir- ')o"icf~ to "..:•l fr~_,-:>.s . t ,,,..."'

:i.L .r·~::-r·.b· ri 11 tL r,c~. 1 '1'"ll they h.:-.v,_; :.;ll ,;;d thei"3C'lVE:S j_·ltO r COL:~) .7·te Cli~ :l0

rr:oved n.ro,;_n '.;he fire. t·,,·o or three: ti,.es .,,:i t,,r jo:!.ning .· n ,s. '.-L'hc ',~c.n e.rc; Gtil lyin:::; o t 11•: Gl'O'u:c· bctFc,...n t1e circlP .,d t~1" -rire.T1c.y ::.:a·,· r::.s~ u~ .~.t cO~'l 'nd, P.li.,.::_ ···-it: t:1eir he,d be:1t trey :p::-ss oubi&.rc's unc.1er tho outstret l.1cd <.rm:::;.·'hen t:J.e n.:.:n i"l ·hite--· 1 1i tc . f:i cocl~ ·too.s''-- t:-.l-:e o l. of t 1l<> "'1'J·~'1Li '3n <tnd ruo-:. in,<'l le ... :::' u::_·o:;. the fire 1 1·Ihic h by t '1ir- t :L:e .v .. ts died d ... ·. '.1 -:: L~i, sici erc.b J y , r· isinf: "'· coJ. ur n or. sr oke : n d1 -::t until th ~ire is \•Ihol.ly st: r:"red out. T !-- .. ; -~- in 1.·hite: no" tc.!\:c; tho "bor ... r,1b i ts 11 b<'CJ.,;: to th·: !'ilvinc nnr _c~.ve them in the c :. gc of t· o cr th.recc re .<..tivcs 1 T..,.le msr. i11 ·•Lit r•.turn to their _.oc.:t 1 c=,n. the ''reviou~ r. ~rformers ·.-•i tl:J. ·::he l''''rty-c o ourcd bo•' ies, r sh in upon t ·hit e r;;en ,

s::::acr l con.Llict ._llE.'iUe[-3--a"ClL nrent 1 y '-' rea. :'.'i;::_11i" 1 :i:o·' "bu.:w!'c.:ngst ."nr!. o ·tht.r wo.C Jvnr-; :·,re 'chro·.-:n ~bout--but t:1is clccs no ·~ :_,_ t long.

A:Lt .r thi,_, is., , OV"r , t e t· o rr'Cll- tr t. 2:'nt1--J.Jr c.wl t. ,, unrl ~'r~rln_s--to '"' lw: the "boo. ';its" "ere C('Y 1 ittc:,~ ~t-•cc th ~m n' _,y into t1,P t'1:!.c~r forc.st nn• k'j -D t _er;; thsir for 1 .n;:, \ e :ks ,tr · --,in::; t'.· '.1 ·rnri tc ·t:.n.:, t'H.!.i.r f:L--nes fo_r:- tri~Jal occ1 ~: .tions."~hen the youL~ l1 ri t ~ e~.st is ..,_1 1 o··ed tv jcL1 hi J '~inc'r .d' 1:: i:3 .cl·lrcs· ed. clS I boombat 11

aml r1 oes not 1_3et his t ib l :,a:"_. u til so1:.le time ftcrt·!~ r s; Tbuo ~~the cer· o1ies of the Borr.The youth beco~es a oan for

i b i~iti ~tjon ~nc t~ tructio. 1r1 over.But ,lthough these ~re for:"'"'litieH ob:,rv ~ ~n ~d~:t~i~ ~youth :!.a;n t~c t 1 ib~,yst in the Boro , ,s in Freen:son~ry ,

th~ nov ' ce d cc no't ::!'!com~ <.: f,_,_ r'-': Er c.l"!. "'t oncc, 1)Ut l'!:u"'t _'H3E- throug~1 se"~r:orc.,l

.e;r'.Ces 1 ·1.n.:: ~hcsl') "'r,. oL"'w in cl 'j'j t:.enc~in.::; c.. c8rtoi·1 n·u, EJr of Doroo.

No'·J 'i .• n I -~~.-; .. y eye '"c~r t'1c or~- c..~rl its rcguloted forr.s,I :e ;l r:yc,;0lf COl~Gtr -~-'led to ask:" \'hat c,oes "l,_ t . i s '"CC:'_n?•ll I C2.1L!Ot believe ytat the Borrl , vi·':;:J. r:l 1 its oJ<::·n:.iticF>--£·or t~e ritE ';ler.;; sacred-.~ .nd the i.1it::..~.tc.d ve:re bounc1 not to ':i. YU ,S- '.'h .t they ~~d S.l.:)n 3.11 c:c'.18- ·iS ::1 !Jle,,_nin:_:;~ess , sc _f-d~Vo::lo}::ed t:~int;.

I ·-,rcfc.:r: :o seo it 'r...; ovrJ.l ;o~_ ism coverin;::: ;:-.n·~8str::1 bs~_ir:;fs , ?.. synolisc en;u~ to thJ ~uahit0 ~~ce ~t fir~t , ~lt no·. li·· tl. unde~~t~od , uuc yet s iot:sly obs __ rv ec by t'1ei··-· .i\ustr<.-:l.ic-1 descent~"J.ts. "".

int~ liic~~b-E~ p,.rc;tit-

~ to 0 ne r i

The e e -.. ri t ion n 0

l <n t to 1 ~ot

'h :! Pt ~1 .rf' ~ tretC!he:!!

of the

enti a' s ~nc~ of whidl regul r l

'reeK pre~Pnt.ea a v t i ff :re. ent Qt ein . th n a ee-, Hat ... at · 11. -t t l- t t' ::~ wi t.h bi y o k tree. • hi

I v ' cir:i y a e o · lac

on fro 1

r. o tly lar a.c OU"l l'!j

tnt" iry

0 19 1 .

'p ear nee to th .rly n r.,..ovr with a.l ternu t

~ at eeent t - e o c· eek as h m.::.ir. . u

i1

the l y

t c n on the

of ti~E" i. ... ol "' ton ~" i ·rt. l ment!! o f th:i."~ t r< h . •nut e evi y on~ e w .n t he t!~wage

fount a t iJl,

r of t e 1 Clrk • T:n.u ..

ar. f'ou ,,ht , n · Jivl'! hi lift' unt.:- . rnellet y hi t ~ t il to bP l!el"n in t e name "'• . ·r a hi~a .

ie t h"' o •i r.; · n l bori in· 1 name o on

" oo1i-· L '' i . t "l ' le, :--::- ... Al <<:tn t• ,::-o name o ~ l a·n n i n th R tn t~ , -~~ ... e t he sav. e .ho"'" · ·•rara·l i " · !'! t h P n o f _ P.·"' • ~ •n .e o ~ l~r . •mua J. imrtr P

rom ~n e t ologi i 1 vi f'o!' 1a1 •y • .• uiif J.ly- "!lad'> a 1e or ,J. e ~ life of t ht"

n~re

, •r 1

·-< tin ~P. ·~ or· i i

~ r-, mt.:-a t e

"H r .. e ne r tht"

i an n't~'>r . l y int re tin_, 1oeality , rnent~ A.re f oun t ot ay, t h o·;dn, corJ i r-

rour1 .ith it ~ ere of c rve tr e elill thi ~ .. tran .. ,. and

c e .or.y was h.l of the loc - llty)

y ~ _ ani. theo mJnths t.e (thi

.... i n .l e h

0~ l 1 tPlJ ut tnP i ~

n the v·lrious t i

o ho i tie

t i 1

'l' early ecternri ~"' an rr:n.k r> J i fe t h

lif " 0

li e ~ uir ~ r~om · bout 100 ·.i 1 .:· . hf" ~r,re r •n .e , an • t only ~e n to ,.,:;.r x t e y .In l a. t er Lower HuntP .T!1en the r

(t o) exclu e fron t h e

t r yedr <, howev - r , H i . thou ht

t i

y ea r u 1 rogr es o :·

'h ulca i r~ ~ka ly well

o .<J. , O.!: .;o ..1 t :>o in 1 . n -ive ··on .. i t r r l P. · i ~ntLic li ht to h3.v e n h la:- t ilU t e_ o f

t. v nc (~ o _' . hi te man . ,It i s ori ::in, l · ~· all f ue ~

t ha t o:o .. ti .. 1 e · ..; for f> ~ nt re ~ i ~n e o: 1r

Lt renuou R; a l l th ct ~r w~r~ n ec es

r c ivil i a tion. So t .. ' ... ""11

our e , ary t o . i ie a o

rie

r t " i v erJ b.- c'< t o ~i ~h:1on i ml t u an ... n - ~ '; ..,e t ·,l er - a r r iv &

f

?Jin~ . ..:o as e.n ·i cq uj r m"'11 f

e' .Interco ll.rse an w ne t ·« f>~e

the s ttl r t he

• T ,t!:-e wl' r o - oun i n .. a ll was :ai r ly . l ent iful, exce t i n

.'irnes o 'rou ·h t • P ig. , ere wafl exl'e,..i n c "' in ra.i ing th m

they ha to b e c'"' r e 'nlly ;;uar

a l s o r Qi s o ever,the

.. . an ba con. ~ on i e~a 1 trou 1 (

Bll r .:n i n 'l th in. oe fro h i ch

T 0 ITO'"'t ta" · ib l . in thP 1 !.s tory o f ulga ~~~ s e y~::>r !" 1848 an ' 1851. On ~'> uthor i ty ee.i the nol ;'"'rl" r-k at ulga an even lon ... tre tc e o f the nt r r.unl in the hto,- o the Gee i ht er to ;•, t r ., tociq in pl t en f~ t>t ene-· th th the. ~ rf n . ni ·ht wil . for water . The ~ettl r : for mo ..:- t ~ r t o ltcJ. inet t heir a t -· r ( r 1nking ) fro, b hol •., ' ' Dooli_r_~n·;. T i l! is a B'rine- w: i ch hd. nev een 'kno .m to f a il.Peopl • to t hi · Nat .r ~~e'-fro near ambo miles away on one -i~e , and ?• ~on ~ ~r ~k i a trict il~s on th~ other. Tho e who were f ortuna te to ~ ve workin bullock~ ~liv~ rew

th .. ir wat •' ca. or . litiee; t .o • le fo"'tunat . r.ollPI. the to thP.ir ho ,e3 •

• ~o :? t of th r toc l<' Nere remov :>t to " Do.r key" in th Howe' . .v 11 y i. i t r i c t ant t urnei lo0~e ;,.rh.,.r" rou~h fe e l was procure;.' 1e.Tiow ve·', a cGnsi .raale num er · ie' . Rlw. t c~ttle cc,u1 f oun :i of the :!urv l vor. ere mus t ••"t"el. a n brought ~ck to .Pulga .h~n the

rou .ht brok han., roo g't'dS. cut on the •11ount:. i n . '1elves were live t i-l. i ne · l y the :-ettl r • J ,ea.ves o "!· 1.h i !"' k.n ·;droc

1 . o ol l t -iln l .eto a~ o f o !! tarvin ~ to" ~ .· During 1 . 57 ve~) .,_in fe l l , th~ . hol e c ountry ::> id 1"•ir:,l lit ~) "' "1or <l! th.:.n · ;L. o1 te- a.ete .

e t c O]) ::-o ur e •1tly e . fo r hu~n o ' ir 'o-r •\,dl.ct. L C·- s-,~ 61:1!! a l os t o. foot hj gh . hi · woe ~ ful ~ y ., t h . r ,t:~e h el. with fl a il ·, · olln t for fl ou:::: , mixel. vr i th ' ';h .t 1 · t tle :lize meal p·~oc arabl · n , kf>a fr.r r · ti . .....__

ro lem which earn s tly o:n the._· t t.ention of '1'1 .- e u c. t i..on o f th "'.h .. t ,l rr.e . 'lith thfi!' u ·-u·l en t r to allo thP chil r n ~ li, it t ucution .

e .. 1oy ·d a- tutor ir. 3 ~ut t~n i. H on t h Shoe''. :Bes i ' e s tn "' e

e· ourc e 'ult e s c. , t h p.!:'o 1 -m <cl.S overcon 5ervic~ . o f r J ot ·.Y get f , n 01 1 ily o f .y:, J ohn e • o the l~voo .ow

}i o f

n i '.hbour ' c i1 r n if r e 1 o t8U0 ht. I'hi s se ttl er ~ inc e u~ t 'ne 9C o ')l was ren v.i . it •8.te wh r acac i ti t rerr- are <: t ill e;rodn._, , · ea. : t -·n ' P· rlY, o f the

~oek t 'ighLr , ju~t b o •, wher e the £1 ~. g;:> Jri .g"l no : l'lto.n 'is. !'hi 1'1 w ~ t-h..·. +'irs t vil !F1.g~ .._chool t ul""a. t mov P, ent w-.8 "'e t ~ f ot q ·on th' . :.--o e . s i.v m m •E :\ o .. t:lL ~omrru.rut o · \ t - ' T .,.. ~ f ~ 0 "'r e t a Jhur.h n a. ·hool rO'>rn . On e acr o f l tc n W·:!! on,.:i- 'OY r vO-~u ''""on _or chur~h, or~hn 1 la.n. r:!-.n cem~tery. Pr ev i ous to t is t he e':t 1\were bu.ri e •here, fancy diet· t .'i , . numb~r ne ..... r the " aor e 'ho 11 ~~r ,'iil- i m MeAl in . , kno n in ht" '-­honoure ol · a a !'I t , gr::~. 1f thE' r o f ul . , an an ol m· n h: hi - " · loy n~-.ruet ty

0 lht,..· ,cu t. ·-~. .. , '-;J-i t th · ti h ui lin , , · •. h i .h -as <»f s l a 1· 11 - a.ncr

hin 1 - oof. T' e t c.r a n to t . ' J r :tr '.Vi l i a.m Cl 'll k s erecti of th 1;uil -1 inr; w s p~ i or by public t"on, a ll other 1· our

Vli th it oine> vo l ur,t, r y . ,,

I

thrfl!e

.bo·iJiru 1 ~Ppr~~ nt~tiv~A qhohl p~ if o ~ ibl~ initiate~ ~~r onq .

i:l.bly b .. t'lot -r- on t" sp 1.kir , . n

A l~o ,

ton ,. ~pea Eon ·onl b r. a.r.l kn w.

oopte , sue ,J.s

trib<tl hi. to'"y n

·., 1 lore .

alOrl ln 1 I 0 i movh r ­(. ..... everal ,l. r,. 'vailu le) .

1 ""r p· one o th .. rr.o t i:npo'.:'t~nt h""Tl fi t:o ue ro '1 sw~h a. evelop-""nt oul L b.. ma:-ing ~a ~r,. ani other d t~ . av i abl~ to f'tu ,. tf' n poa~-ihly

'hf" uublic . 1'h re .voul ;.l~o b~ , I hope, a noncerte e ort to p es~rv• p-dntin ·s n c. rvin f' (t .• ~s,. coul ,. .. o,.,e a ret touri:>t :-~.ttr.t.tion t r!lP· te reas)

J uc 'te o ul r -i_UiX""" la.,.. i n~,ar>t thu~ p.opl~ of aborigin 1 e·cent .oul1 o~ th"" fir t t ' ~e e ~iv,.n op ,ortunity to ~uar abd expl~in fac,.ts of th,.ir .ulturt"" . I a"1 "'Ur fiUCh .. er.on~ HOU reen"n to an invit tion I!Ul 'or

typ o participation: t...,L woul .tl o in icate th~t itt'! p ople har~ t ei

o (' anc · .. nt expr~s.-ion . p.,..

1 e~ 6;9l18HP ";h,. ne,. to pr~"' · rve . 'I'r,i p· rti .ul->rly · p lies to roc. c.JrVil . ..,S

ililife ~~rvic~,I un e .... s t and, proj ct.

in o~- loc tion '" ,. l t · •lnal f nrkC" a.n ha rt .. ,.n nr•limina.ry r e rch into t i~

Pro e~"'or ha.<> • n ' · c t,.

o: the De· rtm nt or r""olo ~, ~"• ~a~tle un·v it t

.; ! er. y, o en e in C"i~ial re~e,rch on surf.ce

.,..e f"rvation n.r san :-ton<> r·trvirgs , ·hi~'h ir. the Lo··er .1 •. ter · sea • t ... ~,. ovc.r a · h h r g~on ar~

I. e a.··ea . · ~ a~ FU,.. est~d. e erie ts ith s'licon •

riefly, t "e ob·ervat ' on~' -::onf't'tute a. ment tC' te "'hool • Th-r C'"' 1 ' .- _ru·· Ar t · . -~ ar l~"'n ~n ~up-ort,a~ .~

in op-.o i ti n .

:h bori ,in 1 hi.-tory in c thei!' oul be view~

Ao. i tori n \ no tly ~ lin ith th~ ~~• Ben ) an ~ v· ' , .. ~n · pent ye t""'

, t .. one> n xa i r in r

val i ::>e 1.i ~·,. of

ion 1 bo i in 1 n ua e ,I sub'lli t th-.:-e i·~ in ee

1 arn or~ about ~bori ines ·nd t. ~ ac..uire 10r~ inti te ~t if• i~ all bout .

\ I

\

ul.ga hi s tory:

-hi s covered a :~-.:rio<l 1:320- - 921 and wa.s compiled ·'Jy iLe:xanclcr ~,- icho las -1 t' .cr , a ':le.w.ber of a fi :::>s t EJ:,) t Lcr family a t 3ul ga . The f irs t sett er v;as 'fhO!:k"..S ~ thor i n 1826 . A photO: copy of :Jat her ' s hand L w:d t ten 3:c-count is i n t he Unive sity archives ,

The propc"'Yty has r m incd unc:1an~ed in t : c fami ly . Fr - ::>.n ...,., t her , ow'1er , said th t Al ex"nder t ook a great i nte est i n abori ginal hi s to ry . ::e vrrot e •• ...

" The Coc1cfizhter Creek pr esent ed L. ver r di f f erent appearance to the early s et·'.lers t 0 its presc nt s t ate , being ee e nd nar":ow wi th alternate s t r etches of dee wat er and sand . nhe creek was t he :t:Ia • n wat er sup ·l· fo resi dent s ••

" In i t s vid ni ty v1e..nde:d ng t:r.·i bes of blac :s ·7e:=e to ~Je s~en on t c s i tes of t eir ole camps . Th~ s t one i r1pl ement s o_ t l:i s s t_ange rece are s t il1_ .:.·oundto ay (1921) .

hey are nut c evi den ce of a bygone age ·:~hen t . o sava£:,-e roaraed f ou ght , and lived his life u nt ramel_cd by r.i i te :1an. :r_ e i mpr .s t o be se n i n -~he name s of cert a i n ::;coc;'!'aphi cf{ l andD.a:_,cs . :.u s ori gina nane fo:::> one of the Eulga :o ntains .

a t nill , hunted and 0 2. + 1e ~a-::e is stil-l ' I1~eerea ' i s .he

" ' Do <> i rwin::; ' is th~ name of a bi~ ·:ia.tc:: o e near the "?r esent esidence o:: I'essrs Ll exander :~Lot crs on t he .lount L.:;ono,r :: ·~tate . ' ::Syyrong ' i s the na:rnn of a lerroon · t he vi ci ni ty o: ' :2oolir.lin_t: ', and it , too , i ~J on t ~e same est a t c , v;hr;re the savages hu t ed ;·rild fowl an is !cno·.m to:.a:r r.s tlL ' Horse Shoe ' . ' Gi rali ' i s t .e Da."D.o of a ::;ully f l o·.::: 12: i ntot :th8 Cock.:i,:)rtc nea'!' the resi de co of ~ r ~':'.nue l - ~-rtri -~ ge , '-2- :::; seen e ->

"Here alsorFc-na i ns of an an i n-:; J3or~ c;round with its sacred ci cl st:· L' defined y smc l ,{ nounds of ear h nnd o r::.nc; of carved t rees st i l-' bea:dng the cu riou •. er1b cenatic:1l devices - .~' i ch r..a_'l:e t~_ is s t rJ.nge and ny tic ce:::>enony of ini i 2tion of tribal r · t..ht s .

'"rhis Bcra ce:::> ..;m ony was .1e . n t 1e year 52 . Om~ reli abl e aut .. o- i ty sai;i i t was a t tended by bet·Jocn 50C and <oo b_r-cl:s as far a·.my es ~· nd;gee and Goulb rn .

"I t s l so i nt"'resting to not e · s i n exi stenc e th~t can be trace

t 1e.t c.urin;_, t c mon-:;h -:: t 1i s :Dora was held no record of a s i n ; le crime o··· outrage b in:; per;:>etrat ed

agc.i ns t T.rhi t se t tler s , t . oush thoy mus t have be.:;n complet e l y at t i r oercy ad t!:e

b l accs :proved ho"til . "

3

:Dora Ceremonies ( '.!ally C'U'ten

r:::'he Goor.bc.n_s- c;e-;r (c _so spcl t I~urrbai'-15er:.e , he.d one bcl ' ef probab::.y related t o t::.r; .::''re ceremony : tl::at as soon as al1 aborigine 'Jere dead , t· e ·.m..:'l d. .··o·_d ')'s~, th:r:ouch a ~eat fire , s~fter \7hi ch the ·;:o.::l,- ·oulC. be re- peopled --. i t '1 a r~:sttr~ .cfCL;. abori:;.:.nal race . Coop lex patterns of body , a:"'I' and S.!ould .r cic" .Lrice:J ::.n:ic:::!tt?d abi_ i ty by the '·iec:re_ , n:an or ·.voman , to part i ·i pat0 i n c"::.,tuin t".boo;:; , ~ituo. ana tribal prohibitions .C:: ._e culture includ.<1d s'1eltc::-:· paint in;.; .... ".n _ c~ngs , ·rhic only tho se..;ond and t 1ir d init i ates co.:tl vie-.-; .

c The th8 Bund~ alun~ tri _, a j o:.r:in:- ell- r<Oc-nbqndf _;e8r to the orth, ,;o:nen p r actise med.:cinP as · .1' a ... th~ , !.1 , usinc herb"' ar1C::. drugs pre:pa.r2 frotl i nC.ift nous plants . T\_ ,rl o::.: clc;v __ r.~n ;:-~rc r vered, sinc e it. v-;as -.lieve th y cou d Ca)tu::-:·e 1ai t"bo :s . -:1e sacred s [;o!'leS O- qu::..rt z coul p::':'ism- refract a sha.: of su l ' _:-h ~ i nto the co_ our o: ·o r2.i nbow • These s t o es 11ere ·;vranJeid in ti- tr"c bark and c_-_d .din a di=~J be.; o..., hl man hair . E t, na. 2 and : er;a e i ni tL .. t i ons i _r') si mLo.r to those o: th~ ';oo:::lbane;; geer, except that roc or arran:;cr:cnts in the sha_ e 01. /t ote::-1i -c fauna 1_ere sed to forL1 cerer.onial areas · ' l., car,.red tre·. s oc cur:,cd in ~oo:cban:tfgeer te:eci t orJ . The mg ·· · d ,'iar:wnd'- c t t co 1.7<:::. r 2arded as a v ry sacred ?lace . Thi s typ~ of t rr-> . e.lso used in and a.bou·~ ?ort I.Tac .,iuari e - - t he te r i torJ o.: t' e ~· ga.mba ribc .

The Ju ~~--- al Tribe , v1 .ich had east ern boundaries v;i th bot h t he G ::J.bar:.g.:geer nd 13undj.alung, --rere o. oos .ly- .mi t !>-~O~Jle , ...--; ·ch a number of cl ans and hordes dcpen,-in[;' on t he avail"'bili y of ·.mr.1en . Cli"lati conditi ons rE:, · ed extensive uc of p s n cloe.ks .. :nC. :-:u"'s . Young girl --rc:r•- tau0:1t .o, -'-o prepare hides and E! .ins to make she te:::os and to pl'ovi e clothes J.O:::' '2 •. ovry weath~r conditions .

Some mjoj e ,..t h e.rran_,e ,ents ~ :naC.c fo::: ;youth initi ations s ti l=. e~ ist. T. e t r:ibc dLl1 not practise cmrcuncisi on or t ooth evulsi on . ThG i ni t i a t es were t aucht r.redi ci ne a t t hess ec.rt a:cran::;emcmts by ol doctor s and I'Tar:'i:.>:;:-"• Selected ' ni tiates rece ·ved i nci '>ions across the side and abdom2n . } s t one -vms inserted behi nd th.::· s:dn to o::::"Jr c. pocket to a cconrr oda t e t he sacred stone o: I:les . age sticl-:s :!:o-::: thess !utu e u:dbo.l elders . T e severity of th"! cruel a'1d vic.o::':'ous r i tunls o hi·· er ..:.1:.-:. ·cL.tion of t :m proved fatal. 3oth exes wo_·e cic:1t :r:~ ces on t hs a ce , chest , C'.Ck ancl buttoc ~s .:. r:. de sis s a ccordi ng to :ribal a:rr .

** -Leference : F::...tional o.r:cs leaflet ;source ,.L P~i e ' s r .. cor .i !'lg.

~~r ~ It'~-- f)G-1

1.~~/A? ~-~

~ c;; t1_ ~ ~~ c ev~..__~ \ ~~ rJ.A--v-, ...... ~ ~ ctV ~ I ~- bv- J ,(..,_1l Oju_; e.~ 4~ ~ ~ ~~~· h~ d._~ f- ~I~ ~ v~ ~ -~- ~ Gr- -~ 7-.~ ~ ~ ~ . {4.,; v~-•--t; ~ ·~} ~ ~._ ~ • -t-~ t / ~'"=> ~~-

L_ ~....-t te,'1 1 ~~ t ~ ~ ~~ 1-fo"'"e..;

~ t IL~1- ~ ~ ~- +- ~· '~_,11,4..,~ ~~ "- w.dvt;, ~-~ ~v-4k.. ~

~ ~ ~~ A..../1-- 0 O~D.f ' ~ ~ cJ:; ~ ~~ vf-~ ~r ,o t..,.L_ ~ c.;

~ ~ ,~ ll._ ~ T~~ ~j.L_ ~ '

~~~~ fk- , ~~~ ~ IC_ L ~ (.) /(:, '

/{~ ~ ~~- 4-v ~~ ~ c~'-~ Pu?-ry <i--

~~ Ve.-M-~ /LJ> · ·· ' ~CL._ tJ-. ~ tL ~'- ~ ~<-,~ I I ~ ( . . .. / ~~~

r.,_ ~ o...._ ~--~ - L+ J~ ~ llv ~..--~ ~ 4 ~ ~--~~~ -k ~--(~ ~/ ~ ~ c_~ ~ - ~-h-_~ 11 ~ 1-

~~(tl ~~ G~_- _ k-.,)~ ~4~ ~ z~ ~ f) .-ek.<_ -4-v r ~ , ~ ~ ~ '-- +- ~ 7f¥V ~ -t ... : ~ f- ~&-./- W--~~ ~- t ~~ r--7<~~ ~1. ~ 4-~~- e~~~ ~ ~~~ ~v~ ~ 1- -~~ Lv~ ~ -1--~-v~ hn~~ ~· Lt&rP C£7 9 ~~ ~ ~7

~-vtl- ~ -l ~ ~- u 7Vfv 4- ~

~IL1k 'vJlJ~ ~ ~ l~f-~· ~~ ~~ ~

~ I

B

3ora eremo. ' es ( a l ly Carten

Th~ Gootib ~-~ee (also spelt ¥~ bain ~i~ ) had one b~lief probablJ rcla Jd to th~ -ire ceremony: that as ~oon as all bori:;inP re dcn.i , the m~ld ;ould ... ss th.rouuh a great firc , aft~_;r wl..ich t 1.

v: rld ··ould be e- pP.opled with a r zu.r:..~cy~;:d aboriginal race . Compl"'X pat ·tJrns o bo1y,ar:n nd o lder cicatrice::: in ic:.t.t ability by thl 1e rer, nnn or ·:o1a , to .a.ri:iid'T)f'tc in C:)rt~in tabooo , i ua.l and tribal prohibitions . 11 e culture inclu kd s11elt r painti ,:-:::: n · carvin..;s, . hich only the se~ond n ~hird init~ te could vic •

Th~ .. he :Dund,jal n :> tribe ,adj oining t 10

indi ~nous plantw . T1c wise coul cantu.r~ ra "nbc:s . ~he shaft of sunlii:.>ht in ·o the ti- tr bark and cr 1 lcd in i iti· tions w r~ ~in"l r to hos or r:r n£, mcmts in th ~ of

,'rl.le carved

tickn for the vigorous ·itua1s of

ore cic t···icec; on th f t ibal la1'T.

ef~;:r nc H tion 1 P r o leaflet

ith both the 'o n b r o clans an

Clitntic conditions .. . Young girls 71 r tau

ml to provid

o ce ,R P ~ne ' s r cor

they

in

ia

lac .:r i::; j o:' 1

ccor inv to

0

d r·n

"J! is n..., attended

rc el 50 an·

J3

"It i s i s in

also intcrestin to note th~t ctencc th•lt can b tract.:d of

inst it c t 1 r ... , t'10u 1 1 y • at :v

blnc ·s :prov ·d hostil • '

* -

n

nc to th str t ch a

t lcrs t r , d

it co of t i,.. today (1921).

n tnl

·ty reid ·t Gou bu:r •

n t

of

t t i · : _ ,y h., d the