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[Page 32] 32
The Poombit or Bora Ceremony
My first view of the Poombit ceremony or the making
of youths into men took place when I was about
ten or eleven years of age. It was held on a scrubby flat
about 2 miles from our house - As a great favour,
my sister, who was about seventeen -was allowed
to be present with my father and me- she was
a great favourite with the blacks, and spoke the
language fluently - a condition was that she
must wear a thick veil over her face as no
woman was ever allowed to see the sacred ceremony-
The veil was certainly worn , but as there was a
convenient little peephole, she was able to see
all that went on -Whether they were aware of this
or were conveniently blind to it, I cant say
but no objection was offered. Probably no other
white woman was even allowed a like privilege -
There was the usual oval cleared space with the
banked margin - and in the centre a heaped
up conical fire - The women were made to lie
down around the edge of the oval (I don't remember
whether on the inside or outer) and carefully covered
with blankets and rugs, an old blackfellow standing
guard over them waddy in hand, ready to give any
restless lady a reminding tap on the head to keep
still