1. Art and Diseño

/
..
~
TH.~
HIST011Y OF BULGA , NS~: .
820
to
921 .
Al exander Eather .
~·
Bu ga , i
an anc i ent abor "[ i nal name s ig n i y ing mo nta i n or mounat i no s g i ven t o
it o ng. a g o ; ong befor e th e w it e man wan ere ct over the range . I t was thus the
peacefu l 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 Pla i ns
i n March ,1 8 9 , Bulga being ~ he first p ace reache
y Howe , S i 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 lbrod ale Es t 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 d i 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 b eing u sed i n li eu of a pack hor s e . In t e
same year --1 6- -Mr Ea t h ~ returned wi th h i s wif e an e l est c h 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 Bu lga , hav i ng acqu i red a grand t of land from
t h e Cr oHn .
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
"lli a 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 h i s
eeth i n 1902 .
chi l d -- ~r
Se t tlement qu i ckly allowed
as the rou t e taken by t he p i oneers was used as
t he ~a i 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 il e land ad j o i ning t he Cockf i eh t 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 Es t a t e ;
Mr Wi ll i ams , Nr Parne l l , ?t,r a t on , Nr :t-1c Al 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 th e ea rly s e ttler~ is o f o pe~ , wcl _- gra &s ed
for e:=- la n ds to the _oa t of the mounta i ns) . Tht-. t i mber was mos t ly larg e 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 countrys i de dur i ng the r y scaons .
Thw Cockf i ght er Creek ~resen t ed a very i ferent appearan c e t o tge
ettlers to i ts present s t a t e ~ be i ng then deep
and narrow , 1i th a lt ernat e
of deep wat er and sand . At that t i me , as at present 1 the banks of the cree k
fr i nged wi th b i g shady oak trees . Thi s creek was the mai n water s ~ pply of
res i den t s .
early
s t re t ches
vere
the
In it s v i c i n i ty v1ander i ng tr i bes of b l acks ( a~ o'i. g i na l 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 ra c e are found to - day;
the mu t e ev "den c e of a bygone age when the savag e 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 s till to be
seen i n the nar.1es of c erta i n geograph.ical l andmar ks .T hus "Meerea" i s t he
1!11Mll!t'lm
orr;;inc ebor i g i na l name
of one of the Bu l g .s mounta i ns . "Do oli rw i ne" i s the name o f
a bi g waterho l e near the pres e nt reside n ce ·of Messrs ~ l exandcr Brot~er s on the
Mount Le o nard Estate . "By-yang" i s the name o a agoon i n the vi c i ni t y of
"Don li rw "ng" , a so on the Mount Leonara Estate ,.,rhere the savages hunte \Vi ld foiiilL,
and knovn today as the
"Horse Shoe" .
"G i 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 ~t r i dge .
From an ethnologica l s t andpo i nt , Bulga i s an i ntense l y i nterest i ng l oca l ity , for
beaut.ifu ly -m de stome i mplement s are f aun today , throw i ng cons i erable
li ~h t on t he
y li fe o t he ear l y savage .
many
Here also i s seen the rema i ns of an anc i ent "Bora" ground , 'Tith it s sacre
c i rc l e s ti ll def i ne d by sma
mounds o f eart , and a r i ng of carv e d tre e s , stil
be ~ r i ng the
cur i ouo emb l emat i cal dev i ces wh i ch marked th "s st r , ge and
mystoc a 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 e n ded
y b e tween 5 C an 600 b l acks from the var i ous tribes as f ar away as ~udgee a n d
t hat du r i ng yhe month s th is Bor a was
Gou l burn .I t i s a l so inte rest i ng to n ot e
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
ou trage be i ng perpe t 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 pro v ed h o st il e . Th _ Hhit e se tt lers we r e r ~ g ~ d ly
l3
nor wou l d •
~ing le
abor i g i na
ga
"'~o
di vu ge whCJt tr a 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 in q 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)
( dom inant )'
Th e ear l y lif e of the sett l er1ent of white peep e at Bulga wa i ndeed strenuous ;
a ] ~he c o urage , enterpr i se and resourcefulness of a s tro ng
character were
necesFary to make lif e a success , so f a r r emoved from the centres of civ i i sat i on .
of the hardsh ips experienced
can be gathered from he fact tha t all the
Some ide a
ne~essar i es 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 greate r part of thi s d is ta ~ce was over ro gh , broken
mountq i 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 obta i ned rom the sett l ement
i n the Lower Hu nter . Then the real progress of B lga commenced .
The st o ck brought to Bulga i d remarkably we l , and we re dr i ven back to Ri chmond
and W"ndsor as o cc asion demanded .Int ercourse was thus kept up,and new settlers arr i ved
and a cquir ed 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
expe r i enced i n ra i sing th em , 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 1848851 . 0n authent i c authority
the 1hole of the Cockfighter Creek at Bu ga and even
lo ng 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 u nder the surfac e . Rou n d
famished cattle roared
or water . The sett ler s for the mos t part
t ese we ls at ni ght
obtained the i r rink ing \va ter from the ho e previously m8ntioned aa "Doo li rt~ i )t g" .. 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 li des ;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 erab l e number , howev r ,
died .' lhCJ. t ca ttl e 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 gras s cut on thP mountai n
shelves were used to keep a l ive stock reta i ned by the settlers . Sheaves of thi s
kangaroo grass were a lso so d at Si ng eton for fodrler for starv ing stock . During
1857 very l ittle rain fell , the who e cou trys i de be ing littl e more than a desolat e
was:t: e . The 1hea t crops so urgently needed for h .an food i n fortunate cases ~~e w
about a foo t h i gh . ThiP
as carefully gath~red , thresh ed with a flail , ground for f l our ,
mixed
·it h what
ittl e 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 th e
attention of settlers . 'ii th their usual enterpr i se an resourc~ ulnlss , holevcr , thi s
was overcom~ to al o the chil rre n a i mite e ucat "on .Thc ~erv ce sof Mr Jon
Wags t aff , an o d Fng li sh g~ntleman , emp l oyed as tutor i n the far i y of Kr John
Eaton , were engaeed. iji s schoolroom •as a hut stan i ng on the bank of t e lagoon
prev i ously ment io ned
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 ,ju st below
~ere the Bu gr
br i dge no ~ standE .Th i s was the f ir Et village sc oo at Bu ga.A mov ement
was set amongst th~ progressi ve ~embers of t he community to ere ct a chur c h and
s c oo l room .A n 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 spl it 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 b uil ~ ing was pa i d for by
b ic
1 oth~r abour in connection with it bring vol mntary . 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
th 8 fir~t t eacher under the Public Serv ic 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 Berre tt ,
t-.r Grnherr-.
The P Pt r i cks Pla i ns S ir e
i n "C" Ri d i ng .
was e tablished i n 1904 , Bulge being inc u ed
Humble an brave as was the be~ in n i ng of Bulga as a settl ~ ment a~vanc i ng
slow y and painful ly through privat i on and hardsh ' p to a prosperpus and pr p gressive
villa&e , enjo ing the b ess i 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 Pa tr i dge ·
-- a re i~ ent of the d i str ict
i n 920 - -as a Amonurrent to the
mer1or y of :-o anv of i ts rave me
1ho fo ght an
died in thP G eat 'nr . For ~he mo~t part they .cr. s .cend nn s of its set t ers , men
u
w o rna e goori ,
o •.;ere not one "'hit i nfer i or in courage , ent erpr i se , re.s p 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 t o t 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 ,f or ~hen he lays as i de his state of pupilage as h i s ' other ' s
boy , and enters the tr i b~ , but on y throu~h certa i 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 ic at 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 e ments in th i s und ,i t has establ i sh€d a prescript i on rieht to recogn itio n , 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 p l 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
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
at i on
h i rr- to the thre chol o~ ceremoni es o. myster io s i mport ,t hrough wh i ch
brought
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 io n
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 ib e ,
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
fhe BorP . The who l e proceed i ngs are essent ia l
genera l features and teachings , but the detai s
i n t he tribal lif e - - is c a
ed
the same ever where i n the i r
vary among the different tribes ,
Bu ga
four
Therefore ,' nstead of a s ppar ate narrative for each tribe , it wi 1 be
endeavoured to present a fu
v iew of the Bora , ta ing one trib~ morle
as the
basis of de<cr i p ' o n , 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 ~ccord in g y su~· on to them +he p b ' c messenge~
or her ld » and b i d
h ' m i nform t e other sect io ns 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 nv it ation is read i y acccpted , for a l though thP. tribes
may be at variance with each other un i 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 su i 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
beg i n ,
but there i R often considerab l 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~ wou l 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 appo int 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 d if fer ·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 b ig camp of assembly . "
A Lnrge concourse i s there .T he men stand
with their bo ie s pa i nted i n str i 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. , bu j
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 -ro arer . 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 myster ie & of
lncient Greece .I n 'ustralia the ~en use 't ir ri oty''
on al occas i 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 e l 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 niti ate 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 spir it, who prow l s
Bu ga
aPout the camp a t n i ght
f ive
nd carr i es of f
and de tY our s
v
t ho s e b l acks
he can se iz e .
"hen the per f omers t h ink that the "boombat" (c:.eJ they ca l e the nov ' ce) has been
suff i c i ent l y i pr ssed ;~t il'ti koty 11 ceases to speak .T'l<>y then ra i se the bo y f rom
the grounl
i n such a manne
that h i s ace
· s turne d to1a r ds t he c Lared track
wh i 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 hu mb l e
att it ude he must cont i nue ~or several days .
take the boy by the arms and ea h i m a ong t he track
Two othAr o d men next
and set h i ~ 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 wh i ch they then stand . Fo r the
po r cup ' ne
he shows stuff l i ke cha l k , for the kangaroo stuff l i ke g l ass , and so on .
Meanwhil e , 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 su c 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 carv i n g s
suff i c i e n 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 li tt 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 mus t 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
and \·Jater nO\/ and then . · hen he vi shes to go outs i de the o l d men
a very i t t l e -~''oo
carr h i m over the ra i sed bor dP.r of the r i ng .
One black boy tol me that when he was i ni tia t ed he J01nP. the assemble
the mon::h of August and d i d not ge t awa tiD -lmost Xmas .
crowd i n
/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 pos it ion , he sa i ~ 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 , pa i 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 the r 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 whe r e the
ol d 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 : " 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
k~p t l y i ng
peep out, bu t neR~ l y lost my l i fe for i t , or they threa t ened to (il me wi th spear .f
over , an~
th~
t i me
Other boys
are not kept so ong as three months. The o d n.en regu .. at e
accord i , to the strength of the boy~All th i ~ 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 "boomb i t" i s next conve e , bl i ndfo ed , to R large camp , a t a distance of
severa l mi les , no women be ' ng near , and ood i s g i ven to i m , ~h i 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 show i ng h i m the i r dan c 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~hi ng
ot her than that i t i s i mportant ~ a~ the bo y
to
kn ow i t . These songs , t_ ~.;.y se:.y , ·1ert.. g i ven to them by "Buyemai ' , the
Bu l 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 p l aces , and al l aroun h i m th 1 m~n mak~ h i 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 Rirll e y quotation check) .
Another consp f 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 app li ed to the teeth. But the o der an more correct seems to
ave been fo one of the older men o f the tribl) to apply his lower teeth to the
upper front t ee th 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
from t he ora .I ob nerved that h i s tooth was not out an I asked h i m why.
'0 ,
he sai • '0 c Boney no good;he trie
his O'-m tooth , and so he gave it u .' "
us
three times and near y bro e
As t o the tooth i tself ; one c~ou nt 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 th e 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 ke p t by the hea man . Thi s
tooth- reaking , however , i 8 not practisP by some of the larger tribe~;but ,i ns t ead ,
there i s circumc i s ion or .utt i ng of the ha ir.
formalit i eo being now c ompl eted the "boomba t
Al l these
probation · sat an end . hey now procee , a l of them together , to a large
he e and jumpi ng in,men and boys , th e y wash off the colouring matter rom
bod i es am i d mu ch gl ee and noise and merr i ment , anr< ,.,hen they com e out of
water they paint themselves wh it e .
s"
waterthe i r
the
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
_d ~ , ~rgE 1re not fur off and ~ r e ly ing xound it,with t e i r f~ces on
th e ::;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 to v!~~rds the fire,fo;_}_owed by :,_l J. t he
ot'··"-r"""" , '. . ,_Lo. vo~ce"'
.,
t , b u t n2 ' nng
·
'
1· n ct c~a' Sl.L€::.1
<. n is c
by beati no- 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 ~i n:.; 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 i n~uishcd.
in~.
In cov
•nc
t~ibc
of l l this, I g i vq the follow i ng
froth
is 'ooyhc,ou. uc..s fe.:rliJ.i -:. r
''ho
hQbits:
obor~t i on
y
.~!
fri
it ~
~!1'1
state~e~t
with th 3
~ade
to kme
Kur~ing-ga i
J
~~- _:sf'!v:n
in
c".'o lLre· isf
n. n ·I""' t'L -, .. PC:..· :1·· ·n··
ion
.. .,., · sc~ 1 rl.e:-:;c.nri f.·o~. t'1 ~- 1 '1ts 11 .. '
eire 0•
,
:.re ~nti ··r. c refu, · J co'~'
it h c () ·-.':'· , 1~ ,,··ct.s '"'nc' -;;he
no t
o k u . 1 f o s rw r 1 r , _c 1-:
j -~ _ c ..' . r
ir;. t
i· h .nd~ "rc ru nine
. . ' .....
0'.1 ...,.,1.(
eire
o! :·ro. tr .'::
o:.c 1 1 re dy 0 l-:..1: t' 0!'1 ·.~ '·'.·:·y G. r · to lao .•
r 1 :. ck =- .r r· "lt t ~ .s e
A •11_;_ t
n
~ n on
n C'cc .-;i-- 1 •
h
0
,. R co
'l:l-ed to ~o., · 1~
i-=i~~ tr
'-' lC
~
J.
I,
./..
Oi
l'
r
_-·~or
rl :· I'
nd o
~
b . c •. · 1
r:r 1 ns
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'"ll they h.:-.v,_; : . ; l l ,;;d thei"3C'lVE:S j_·ltO
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.
1
r
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 '~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- t hroug~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.
J
.. y eye '"c~r t'1c or~- c..~rl its rcguloted forr.s,I :e ;l r:yc,;0lf
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:~ i nt;.
No'·J
'i .•
n I
-~~.-;
COl~Gtr -~-'led
I ·-,rcfc.:r: :o seo it 'r...; ovrJ.l ;o~_ ism coverin;::: ;:-.n·~8str::1 bs~_ir:;fs , ?.. synolisc int~ liic~~b-E~
en;u~ to thJ ~uahit0 ~~ce ~t fir~t , ~lt no·. li·· tl. unde~~t~od , uuc yet s p,.rc;titiot:sly obs __ rv ec
by t'1ei··-· .i\ustr<.-:l.ic-1 descent~"J.ts. "".
to
~
ne r
0
i
on
1
fro
19
0
1.
i1
The
e e -.. ri t ion
to
l <n t
en ti
r.
o tly lar
n
a'
0
1 ~ot
s ~ nc~
a.c
of
whidl regul r l
'ree K
'h
:! Pt
~1
.rf'
~ tretC!he:!!
of the
OU"l l'!j
iry
tnt"
pre~Pnt.ea
a v
:re. en t Qt
t i ff
ein . th n aee-,
Ha t ... at ·
wi t.h bi
11. -t t l- t t' ::~
y o k tree . • hi
'p ear nee
to th
.rly
n r.,..ovr with a.l te rnu t
~ at
eeent t - e
o the
c· eek as h m.::.ir.
.u ly
tc
e o · lac
v ' cir:i y a
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
ar. f'ou ,,ht , n · Jivl'! hi lif t' unt.:- . rnellet
y hi t
~ t il to bP l!el"n in t e name
"'• .·r a hi~a .
o on
ie t h"' o •i r.; · n l bori in· 1 name
I
n on the
fount
at
iJl,
r
1
Clrk •
of t e
T:n.u ..
" oo1i-· L '' i . t "l
' le, :--::- ... Al <<:tn
t• ,::-o
name
R
o
tn t ~ ,
~
-~~
l a·n n i n th
... e t he sav. e
"H r .. e
n e r tht"
.ho"'" · ·•rara ·l i " · !'! t h P n
of
•n .e o ~ l~r . •mu a J. imrtr P
_ P.·"' • ~
i
rom ~n e t ologi i 1 vi
f'o!' 1a1 •y
•.•uiif J.ly- "!lad'>
a 1e or ,J. e ~ li fe of t ht"
an
rnent~
n't~'>r .
A.re
l y int re tin_, 1o eality ,
f oun t ot ay, t h o·;dn, corJ i rrour1
n~re
.ith it
~
ere
of c rve tr e elill
thi ~ .. tran . ,. and
, •r 1
c e . or.y was h.l
of th e loc - llty)
y
·- < tin
~ P. ·~ or ·
~
0~
r-,
i
i
mt.:-a t e
l 1 tPl J
ut
~
theo mJnths t.e
t nP i ~
_ ani.
(thi
.... i n .l e
h
(t o)
exc lu e fr on t h e o .<J. , O.!: .;o ..1 t :>o in 1 . n -ive
t r yedr <, howev - r , ··on .. i t r r l P. · i ~ntLic l i ht
to h3.v e
n h la:- t ilU t e_ o f
H i . thou ht
t.
v
nc (~ o _' . hi te man . ,It i s
t i
ori ::in, l · ~· all f u e ~
t ha t o:o .. ti. 1 e · ..; for f>
n
th e v·lrious t i
o ho
i tie
t i
1
'l'
early
ec t ernri ~"' an
rr:n.k r> J i fe
th
li e
~
lif "
nt
re ~ i
~n
e o: 1r
our e ,
Lt renuou R; a l l th
w~r~ n ec es ary t o
r c ivil i a tion. So . i ie a o
rie
t ..' ... ""11
0
ct ~r
f
~
uir ~ r~om
· bout 100 ·.i 1 .:· . hf" ~r,re
r •n .e , an • t only ~ e n
u
to ,.,:;.r x t e
y .In l a. t er y ea r
Lower HuntP .T!1en the r 1 rog r es o :·
ul ca i
r~
~ ka ly well
'h
e'
.Int
erco
ll.rse
?J in~. ..:o
as
an
w
ne
t
·«
f>~ e
e.n ·i cq uj r
the
s
ttl
r
t he
m"'11 f
a l s o r Qi s
.'irnes o
'rou ·h t • P ig. , ere
wafl exl'e,..i n c "' in ra.i ing th m o ever,th e
they
ha
to b e c'"' r e 'nll y ;;uar
.. .
b.- c'< t o ~ i ~ h:1 on i ml
an . . n - ~ '; ..,e t ·,l er - a r r iv &
• T ,t!:-e wl' r o - oun i n .. a ll
was :a i r ly . l ent iful, exce t i n
an ba con. ~ on i e~a 1 trou 1 (
B ll r .:ni n
'l th
in. oe
fro
h i ch
r
t " i v erJ
t u
ta" · ib l .
in thP 1 !.s tory o f ulga ~~~ s
e
y~::>r !" 1 848 an ' 1851. On ~'>
uthor i ty ee.i the nol
;'"'rl" r-k at ul ga 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 he ir a t -· r ( r 1nk ing ) 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. P eopl •
to
t hi · Nat .r ~~e'-fro near ambo mile s 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 •
T
0 ITO'"'t
to " Do.r key"
in th Howe' . .v 11 y i. i t r i c t ant t urnei
•~o :? t of th r toc l<' Nere remov :>t
;,.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 .Pul ga .h~n the
rou . ht brok
han., ro o g't'dS.
cut on the •11ount:. i n . '1elves were
live
t i-l.i ne · l y th e :-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~)
1
.,_in fe l l , th~ . hol e c oun try : > id
" •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 o s 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
th e._· t t.ention of
'1'1 .- e u c . t i..on o f th
e· ourc e 'ult e s c. , t h p.!:'o 1 -m <cl. S overc on
"'.h
.. t ,l rr.e . 'lith thfi!' u ·- u·l en t r
5ervi c~ . o f r J ot
·.Y ge t f , n 01 1
to a llo thP chil r n ~ li, it
t ucution .
ily o f .y:, J ohn
e •
e .. 1oy ·d a- tutor ir.
o the l~voo
.ow
3 ~ut
t ~n i.
on t h
}i
Shoe''. :Bes i ' e s tn "' e
of
n i '.hbour ' c i1 r n if r e 1 o t8U0 h t. 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\ t m -m •E' :\ o .. T t:lL .,..~omrru.rut
o·
~
f
~ 0 "'r e t a Jhur.h n a. ·hool rO '>rn . On e a cr 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
bu.ri e
•here, fa ncy
diet· t .'i , . numb~r ne . . . r the " aor e 'ho 11 ~~r ,'iil- i m MeAl in . , kno n in ht" '-honour e ol · a
a !'I t ,
gr::~. 1f thE' r o f ul . , a n an ol m· n h: hi - " · loy n~-.ruet
ty lht,..· ,cu t. ·-~. .. , '-;J-i t th ·
ti
h
ui lin , , ·•. h i .h -as <»f s l a
1· 11 - a.ncr
0
hin
1 - oo f. T' e t
c.r a n to t .
' J r :tr '.Vi l
i a.m Cl 'll k s
ere c ti
of th 1;uil -1 inr; w s p~ i
or by pu bli c
t"on, a ll oth er
1· our
lo0~e
H
1\were
Vli th it
o ine>
vo l ur,t, r y .
,,
I
thrfl!e
.bo·iJiru 1 ~Ppr~~ nt~tiv~A qhohl
if o ~ ibl~ initiate~ ~~r onq .
A l~o ,
ton
,.
~pea
Eon
·onl b
r.
a.r.l kn w.
p~
i:l.bly
oopte , sue ,J.s
trib<tl hi. to'"y
p·
one o th .. rr.o t i:npo'.:'t~nt h""Tl
oul b.. ma:-ing ~a ~r,. ani other
""nt
'hf" uublic . 1'h re .voul ;.l~o b~ , I hope,
n c. rvin f' (t .• ~s,.
coul
,. .. o,.,e a
1 ""r
L
b .. t'lot -r- on
t"
sp 1.kir , . n
0 i
movh r ·., 1 alOrl ln 1
(.
.....
everal
,l.
r,.
'vailu
le) .
lore .
I
n
ro '1 sw~h a. evelopto f'tu ,. tf' n poa~-ihly
ort to p es~rv• p-dntin ·s
ret touri:>t :-~.ttr.t.tion
t r!lP· te
reas)
ue
fi t:o
t~ . av i abl~
a noncerte
e
d
'te
o ul r -i_UiX"""
la.,.. i n~,ar>t thu~ p.opl~ of aborigin 1 e·cent
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.,..
p· rti .ul->rly · p lies to roc. c.JrVil . ..,S
1 e~
";h,. ne,. to pr~"' · rve . 'I'r,i
ililife ~~rvic~,I un e .... s t and,
in
o~loc tion
'" ,. l t · •lnal f nrkC" a.n
ha
rt .. ,.n nr•limina.ry r e rch into t i~ proj ct.
J uc
o~ th""
. oul1
6;9l18HP
o: the De· rtm nt or r""olo ~,
.; ~"• ~a~tle un·v
! er. it y,
Pro e~"'or
e
in C"i~ial re~e,rch on surf.ce
ha.<> • n ' · c t,.
t o en
.,..e f"rvation n.r san :-ton<> r·trvirgs , ·hi~'h ir. the Lo··er .1 •. ter
·
sea • t ...~,. ovc.r a I.· e a.··ea . · h ~ h a~ FU,.. est~d. e erie ts ith s'licon
r g~on ar~
•
riefly, t "e ob·ervat ' on~' -::onf't'tute a.
"'hool • Th-r C'"' 1 ' .- _ru·· Ar
~
ar l~"'n t ~n
·
in op-.o i ti n .
ment
tC' te :h bori ,in 1 hi.-tory in
..~- c thei!' oul be view~
~up-ort,a~
i tori n \ no tly ~ lin
ith th~ ~~• Ben ) ' an , ~.. v·~n
xa i r in
r ion 1 bo i in 1
n ua e ,I sub'lli t th-.:-e i·~ in ee
val i
::>e
1 arn
or~ about ~bori ines
·nd t. ~ ac..uire
Ao.
1
.i
~·,.
of
~t
if•
i~
all
bout .
\
I
\
· pent ye t""'
10r~
, t .. one>
n
inti
te
ul.ga hi s tory:
-hi s covered a :~-.:rio<l 1:320- - 921 and wa.s compiled ·'Jy iLe:xanclcr
- 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 phot O:c opy of :Jat her ' s hand Lw:d t ten 3:c-count is i n t he
Unive sity arch ives ,
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 •• ...
~,- ic ho l as
1
" The Coc 1cfizhter Creek pr e s ent ed L. ver r di f f erent appearanc e to the early s et·'.lers
t 0 it s presc nt s t ate , being ee e nd nar":ow wi th a lternate s t r et ches of dee wat er and
s and . 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
ol e camps . Th~ s t one i r1pl ement s o_ t l:i s s t_ ange rece are s t il 1_ .:.·oundto ay (1921) .
hey are nut c evi den ce of a bygone age
·:~hen t . o sava£:,-e roaraed a t nill , hunted and
f ou ght , and lived his life u nt ramel_cd by r.i i te :1an. :r_ e i mpr .s 0 2. + 1e ~a -::e is stil-l
t o be se n i n -~he name s of cert a i n ::;coc;'!'aphi cf{ l andD.a:_,cs . :.u s ' I1~eerea ' i s .he
ori gina nane fo:::> one of the Eulga
ntains .
:o
" ' Do<> i rwin::; ' is th~ name of a b i ~ ·:ia.tc:: o e near the "?r esent esidence o:: I'essrs
Ll exander :~Lot crs on t he .lount L.:;ono,r :: · ~tat e . ' ::Syyrong ' i s the na:rnn of a lerroon ·
t he vi ci ni ty o: ' :2oolir.li n_t: ', and it , too , i ~J on t ~e same est a t c , v;hr;re the savage s
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 res i 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 2ti on 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 s o i nt"'resting to no t e t 1e.t c.urin;_, t c mon-:;h -:: t 1i s :Dora was held no record
· s i n exi stenc e th~ t can be trac e of a s i n ; le crime o··· outrage b in:; per;:>etrat ed
agc.i ns t T.rhi t
se t tle r s , t . oush
b l accs :proved ho" til . "
thoy mus t have be.:;n
complet e l y at t
i r oercy
ad t!:e
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 f ire , s~fter \7hi ch the
·;:o.::l,- ·oulC. be re- peopled - . i t '1 a r~:sttr~ .cfCL;. ab ori:;.:.nal rac e . Coop lex
patterns
of body , a:"'I' and S.!ould .r cic" .L ri c e: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 c erer.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
t yp~ 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 mjo j 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 evu lsi 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
re ce · 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 c conrr 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 fata l. 3oth exes
wo_·e cic:1 t :r:~ ces on t hs a ce , chest , C'.Ck ancl buttoc ~s .:.r:. de sis s a c cordi 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
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~
t1_
~~ c ev~..__~ \ ~~
rJ.A--v-,......
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~
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~ v~ ~ -~- ~ Gr- -~ 7-.~ ~ ~
ctV
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v~-•--t; ~ ·~} ~ ~._ ~
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+- ~· '~_,11,4..,~
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/
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~~~~ fk- , ~~~ ~ IC_
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/{~ ~ ~~- 4-v ~~
~ c~'-~ Pu?-ry
L
~~ Ve.-M-~I
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~CL._
/LJ>
· ·'
~
r.,_ ~ o...._ ~-- ~ ~ ~
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f)
~~ ~-
r
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'-- +- ~
~ -l
~..-~--(~ ~/
~·
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7f¥V
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-t. .:
~
Lt&rP
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C£7 9
u
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1-
f-
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W--
-~~ Lv~ ~ -1--~-v~
~~
7Vfv
4-
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'vJlJ~ ~ ~
l~f-~·
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t ~~ r--7<~~ ~1. ~ 4-
~ ~~~ ~v~
~-vtl-
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~'- ~ ~<-,~
~-h-_~ 11 ~
~~- e~~~
hn~~
'
G~_- _ k-.,)~ ~4~ ~
.-ek.<_ -4-v
~ ~ ~
tL
~~~
/(:,
L+ J~ ~ llv
~ c_~ ~ ~
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( . . .. /
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4
~~( tl ~~
z~
tJ-.
(.)
~~
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B
3ora
eremo. ' es ( a l ly Carten
Th~ Gootib
(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
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
or r:r n£, mcmts in th ~
,'rl.le carved
~-~ee
10
they
in
hos
of
ia
lac .:r i::;
o:' 1
j
ith both the 'o
n b r o clans an
Clitntic conditions
.. . Young girls 71 r tau
ml to provid
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
ccor inv to
o
ce
,R P
~ne ' s
r cor
J3
t lcrs
t r ,d
nc
to th
str t ch a
it
co
today
of t
i,..
(1921).
n
tnl
0
d
r·n
of
"J! is
n..., attended
rc
·ty reid ·t
Gou bu:r •
el
50 an·
"It i s also intcrestin to note th~t
ctencc th•lt can b tract.:d of
i s in
1 y • at
inst it c t 1 r ... , t'10u 1
blnc ·s :prov ·d hostil • '
* -
n
t
:v
n
t t
i · : _ ,y h., d the