FL661586

44,
gatherings of Blacks in the District of
Wellington, many distant tribes assembled
it took some months, from the first assembled
of it, till all that were expected had arrived.
There were some present who spoke different
dialects. There was only one of the young
Aboriginees who [words crossed out] was always much attentive
and candid to me who ventured to give me
a few particulars of the ceremony but enjoining
me never to betray his communication to [indecipherable]
others. His statement amounted to they thought
there was a particular spot fixed upon where
certain mysterious figures [words crossed out] cut [indecipherable]
bark [words crossed out] were produced fixed in
place more or less surrounded by a sort of
rough enclosure to resemble a chamber
To this place they went in solemn procession
made certain obeisances, & other mysterious
movements, sung a song sent by Baiamai
and finished with a sort of dance. The
song of which a portion was related to me was
unfortunately not in the Wirudurru dialect
only a few odd words resembling it, so
that neither I nor the young man could make
meaning of it. That this was a kind of worship
is evident & some of the particulars confirmed [indecipherable]
[margin] in my opinion already stated that the corro-
[margin] birris are a remnant of worship.