Once a report was brought to the brothers by blacks of a distant tribe that a white man had been seen again far to the west; but upon asking whether they could not go and find him, they were told that it was impossible, as not only was the distance enormous, but there were many hostile tribes between them and the country where the white man had been seen.
After the rains had ceased, numbers of strange natives began to collect. These were the tribes that Dromoora and his men had spoken about.
Some eight tribes were represented amongst these new arrivals, and at one time our foresters counted over 600 on the ground together.
After the usual examination of the white men, which was rendered more bearable by Dromoora being present, and giving orders to the blacks that they were to treat them as warriors, the strange tribes introduced themselves to the “friendlies” by organizing a grand “corroboree,” which lasted two nights. At its conclusion it was evident by the preparations made that something unusual was about to take place.
Upon inquiry it was found that they were about to celebrate a “Boorah,” or “Boree,” a ceremony to make the lads young men.
Dromoora explained that for eight months previous to this event the lads have to go into the bush and cater for themselves, that during that period they must on no account see a female, and that after this term of independence they are brought in, and cane rings are placed round their arms, and twisted tightly.
Upon this special occasion the brothers were prevented from sleeping all night by the hideous cries and howls of the youths, who were enduring agony from the pressure of the rings.
When daylight at length came, they saw forty of the victims seated on the ground, surrounded by their mothers, sisters, and female relatives. These women were crying and cutting themselves all over with sharp stones, in token of joy at seeing them.
The youths they had put comfortably to sleep in shady places, while the old jins were away in the swamps to get roots to make them cakes.
The older men had collected the spears of the youngsters, which they had been carrying with them during their eight months’ absence; these they had fixed in the earth in a semicircle, fastening grass festoons from head to head of each spear.