The Great Spirit of the Yam, called “Knaninja Tjilba Ladjia,” when he leaves Altjerringa, takes up his abode in a cave near Mount Conway, where the tjuringas are kept, but at night, before the fires are lit, he is supposed to come to the ceremonial ground and occupy the decorated “totem” stick described above. During the performance he is surrounded by all the ordinary performers, who are known as “Tjilba Ingarrega,” and are directly under the guidance of the Ingada and Kuta Knaninja.
A group of men who are not decorated sit near one of the fires and sing while the performers are thus encircling the Ladjia stick:
“Imbanai yinga
Wi ma bana Ladji di bana
Yammana wi ma bana
Jai ra ja ja
Jai ja ja na
Wi ba na na
De a re a ja betja,”
the voices finally fading away to an almost inaudible whisper.