Malkara[1] song, the old Mura-mura scattered the fire about, so that all those who were sitting round it were burned by the hot coals. After a painful night, the men at early dawn were painting themselves for the ceremony, and the six young men who were to be initiated were brought forward.[2] For each youth four men placed themselves so that their bodies were bent outwards. On these men the youth was laid, and in this manner two of them were circumcised by means of the fire-stick. Then the Malku-malku-ulu came up, and instantly rushing forwards circumcised the four other boys with their stone knife before the people knew what they were doing, thus saving the former from imminent death. Then going to the astonished men they presented their stone knife to the Woningaperi,[3] and told them to use it in future, and thus preserve their boys from death.
Having done this, the Malku-malku-ulu went onwards, and at Kutchi-wirina[4] they saw, at a little distance from them, a Kutchi in human form suddenly disappear into the ground. In alarm they altered their former course and went in another direction.
Decked with the Tippa-tippa, the young Mura-muras[5] wandered onwards, hunting and seeking food as they travelled, killing a Kapita in one place, and in another finding a tract covered with Manyura[6] on which they feasted. After resting here for some time, they travelled farther and found a kangaroo lair at Chukuro-wola.[7] Thinking that there might be a kangaroo in it, the one who had sharpest sight threw his spear into it, then also the spear of his comrade, who was one-eyed, but failed to
- ↑ Malkara is the word for the songs sung at these ceremonies.
- ↑ This description of the procedure at the ceremony of circumcision is part of the legend. For every custom and rite there is an equivalent in a Mura-mura legend. If, for instance, one asks a Dieri, "Why do you have this custom?" the reply is, "Our Mura-muras had that custom too, so we must follow them."
- ↑ Woningaperi is the equivalent of the Arunta Atwia-atwia, mentioned by Spencer and Gillen, p. 647. He is the man who performs the rite of circumcision.
- ↑ Kutchi is a spirit of the dead, a ghost; wirina is "to go in."
- ↑ Only the circumcised men can wear the Tippa. It is not only worn for decency, but is also by the men of the Pinya fastened to their beards. These, to show their anger, put the end of the Tippa in their mouths and bite it.
- ↑ Manyura is the Claytonia Ballonensis. (Narrative of the Horn Exped.)
- ↑ Chukuro is in Ngameni "kangaroo," and wola is "nest" or " lair."
