118 RECREATION: CORROBBOREES, SPORTS, AND GAMES.
in the case of the Molonga performances, to be subsequently dealt with, where it had already passed through at least three separate and distinct camps (sect. 199). This same Molonga also affords a good illustration of the distance and time taken by one of these dances in its peregrination. Whether the Workia, of the Georgina headwaters and Northern Territory, invented it themselves or only received it from others, it is impossible for me to say : nevertheless, from them it travelled to Camooweal and Lake Nash, whence the Headingly men, the Taroinga, brought it down to Caranddtta, where it made its appearance for the first time in 1893. Hence, it branched along in three directions : westwards, to the Toko Eanges, to Carlo, and down the Mulligan ; eastwards, along the Leichhardt- Selwyn Eanges, including Mount Merlin, Buckingham Downs, Ac, and to Cloncurry; southwards, to Eoxburgh and Glenormiston, at both of which localities it appeared at the end of 1894, and so to Herbert Downs and Boulia, where it arrived in 1895. From Boulia, it travelled on the one hand, via Marion Downs down the Georgina, making for the Lower Diamantina, and, on the other, via Springvale for the " Gates," Davenport, and Cork on the Middle Diamantina, where it was met with at the beginning of 1896. Even at Eoxburgh all traces of the meanings of the words had been lost by, or rather were unintelligible to, the individuals singing it.
192. (si) Performers. — Adults of either sex may take part in the dancing, but as a rule women only perform in the daytime. Men may occasionally join in these day-light ones, but in such circumstances are never blood-feathered (sect. 185) : they are only grease-painted.
193. (e) Sress and Decorations. — Each tribe appears to have its own particular designs and decorations so far as the accoutrements and paraphernalia are con- cerned (c/! the various articles of attire described in Chap. VII.J, the newly invented corrobboree-song in each district consisting in the main of a new song in an actually old "dress ": of course when it is one that has been imported the accompanying flew " dress " is adopted. Blood-feathering (sect. 185) is invariably used in the male costumes, but never in the female. The following illustrations represent typical local costumes of the Boulia District : —
Eig. 288. Male.— On the top of the head are fixed two light sticks at right angles, tipped at their extremities with white-owl or corella feathers: this ornament is the ta-ka-le. Over Va&miri-miri, or forehead-net, are stuck a few vertical white- feather bands. The face, trunk, and limbs, as far as the wrists and ankles, are covered with red-ochre grease. Two charcoal spirals reach from the forehead to just below the knees, one spiral passing in front, and the other behind the trunk : also, two semi-ovals of charcoal over the front and side of each elbow. The remaining white stripes, running parallel with the charcoal ones, consist of feather-down put on in the usual way with blood (sect. 185). The "get-up" is completed with a human- hair waist-belt, a hoompara, a bunch of emu or eagle-hawk feathers (the tilyari or pinghara) hanging over the fold of the buttocks, and a bunch of singed leaves tied on to the ankles and wrists. The object of these singed leaves (used only by the men) is to cause a rustling or crackling noise when dancing. The " leaders " in the dance are not to be distinguished, so far as dress is concerned, from the other performers.
Pig. 284. Male.—M&Y be adopted even during the same performance, indiscriminately with the preceding, than which it is said to be easic^r to properly design. Instead of spirals, the bands are vertical, and the two main charcoal ones are each composed of two closely apposed ones.
Fig. 285. JfaZe.— Sometimes a design with transverse instead of vertical stripes may be noticed : the easiest of all to manipulate. It consists of thick charcoal bands on the upper chest, stomach, and limbs, filled in between with red-ochre grease and white feather-down. Singed leaves on wrists and ankles as before.
Eig. 286. Male. — Is a rare variation, practised more in the old days than now. A charcoal band _^encircles the body from one shoulder over the opposite hip : the rest filled in as before.
