FL661389

some resembled human figures, others
formed a sort of a cross fastened to a
stick. These were solemnly & reverentially
approached and a kind of obeisance or pro-
stration made before them. Some of the Blacks
it would appear [word crossed out] made an oration
and went through various ceremonies, as if
[insert: once the name of Baiamai was several times repeated,]
paying homage to some superior being. A song
was then announced & sung. [indecipherable]
of about 8 or 9 verses or stanzas, and
certain portions were repeated. The ceremony
ended in a sort of dance, but performed
with some solemnity as if something different
from the usual Corrobory dance. It had
often struck me before that their corroberries
were a slight remnant of the same sort
[insert: wild as the scene appears, it]
of worship; for often there was something
in it which seemed to indicate a religious
ceremony; I observed repeatedly pieces of
bark stuck up on such occasions with
various curious figures painted on the
scene. The song I have mentioned of which
was sometims accompanied with some strange & mysterious practises