Box 5/Item 21: Notebook re. Aboriginal languages, sign language, songs and tribes, undated - Page 32

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Transcription

Reincarnation

When the bones of a blackfellow

are burned, it is supposed that

he cannot be reincarnated, i.e.

not return to [???] in another

form.   The spirit is supposed  

to be the principal factor and

it is associated with the bony

Skeleton.   The analogy is given  

by a blackfellow of the big larva

of witchedy or [conus??]    in bark of

gum tree.   The metamorphosed

moth  escapes leaving   but the

empty shell of the "dead" witchedy

grub behind.   The natives collect

bones of a dead relative and wrap

them in paper and conceal them

in caves to ensure the spirit of dead

coming back to life.   For similar reason they carry bones from one place to another

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