Notes by Howitt on Kulin from Barak

Transcription - Page 75

50
Initiation
Western port

William Bairuk says that in Western [Port]
the Initiation is very easy and short.
It is called Tállangŭn. The boy is
taken at some single mans camp and
thence to another where part of the growing
beard whiskers and moustache are pulled out but
not all. Ringtail possum bands are placed round
his arms – a net máragalŭn raddled is
tied round his forehead and a reed necklace
placed round his neck. He is invested
with a branjep (front + rear one) – and has
a [lon - crossed out] bone (ilijéri) in his nose. This being
done he is a young man and is gradually
made free of forbidden food by having the
various animals +c given to him in small
cooked pieces.
________________________________________________________________
The Marine beck
(Bad Country)

When a new comer is to be made free of
the Marine Beck – say at Tarwin (Blacks).
The old man plucks most of the newcomer’s beard
out. Runs a streak of raddle over his head and
down his back and down his front to the Branjep.
A wide white streak is drawn like a pair of
braces from the back to front on each side.
He is then taken to a certain place where
he is fed with Eels which are caught with
a Jag spear and roasted for him.

He must also learn the Būnwūrŭng
language which is spoken there and
which is the language of Lohan who lives
at Wilson’s promontory and who made this
custom.

The Waang & Bunjil sticks

In the time before whites came when
some wang (waa) & Bunjil people were
camped around the same fire each one had
his own stick to stir it with or to cook the food.
He must not touch the stick of any other
man - specially one of the opposite name
under the chance of his fingers swelling.
If so he would have to go to the [M old man - crossed out] Wira rap
who would draw the piece of wood out.

[written in left side margin]

in Nulit
language of Gippsland
jinibin

When at dawn the newcomer
{hears sees (say) a laughing Jackass making a
noise at him he must turn towards
him and spit (or splutter) loudly
at him - to [indicate - crossed out] drive off the
bad influences for the birds when they
do this are saying “what did you
come here for?”