[Page 153]
141
TRADITIONS
wand, is exhibited at the bora (to be explained hereafter), and that the sight of it inspires the initiated with manhood. This sacred wand was the gift of Baiame. The ground on which the bora is celebrated is Baiame's ground. Billy believes the bora will be kept up always all over the country. Such is the command of Baiame.
The milky way, as King Rory told me, is a worrumbūl, or grove with a watercourse running through it, abounding in all pleasant things, where Baiame welcomes the good to a happy life, where they walk up and down in the enjoyment of peace and plenty. It is "the inside," he said, that goes up to the sky – not the bones and flesh. Sometimes the good come down again to visit the earth. Colonists who have for many years observed the Aborigines, say that it is a common thing for these people, in the prospect of death, to express a cheerful hope of being better off hereafter.
IV.- TRADITIONS OF STARS
Venus is called IJindigindōer (you are laughing), or IJaijikindimawa (laughing at me). Among the squatters occupying the part of the country where these names of Venus are used are some gentlemen of classical attainments ; and possibly the idea of the laughing goddess may have been suggested by them. Orion is called Berai-berai (a young man). This young man was said to have been "būrul wīnuηailun miai-miai" (much thinking, or desirous of young women), when Baiame caught him up to the sky, near to the "miai-miai" (the Pleiades), whose beauty had attracted him. He has a boomerang in his hand, and a ghūlūr (belt) round his waist. One of the miai-miai (the Pleiad which is barely visible) is supposed to hide behind the rest, on account of her defective appearance, and is called gurri-gurri (afraid or ashamed).
King Rory, on a beautiful starry night, in June, 1871, gave me the name "IJndigindōer" for Venus. He also gave the following information: –"Mars is "Gumba" (fat) ; Saturn is "wuηgal" (a small bird) ; Acturus is "guëmbila" (red). At Gundamaine, far away up the Namoi, an old blackfellow called it "Guēbilla."
Canopus, he called wumba (stupid or deaf) ; I suppose because this beautiful star, while it looks so fair, is deaf to their prayers.
Benemasch and the star next to it, in the tail of the Great Bear, which rise about N.N.E. and set N.N.W., not rising high, but apparently gliding along under the branches of the tall trees like owls, are called ηūη-gū (white owls).
The Northern Crown is "mullion wollai" (the eagle's camp or nest), with its six young eaglets. When this constellation is about on the meridian, Altair (chief star in Aquila) rises in the N.E., and is called by the Wailwun people "mullion" (eagle).