e much alarmed because he could not swallow, and to support
him were slowly dropping water into his ear. His last moment was
evidently near at hand, and, after having felt his pulse and paid him a
few little attentions, which always gratify them much, I turned away to
examine the dispositions of the encampment.

I found that Miago's hut was close to Mulligo's, and he himself was
present, ready to assert his right to the wives of his dying brother
should anyone appear to dispute his claims; he was evidently well
supported, for the Nagarnook family mustered strong around his hut, and
the two half-brothers of one of the ladies in dispute were members of it.
Weyup, the half-brother of the other native girl, was also present, and
therefore evidently favoured Miago's cause. They were all in anxious
expectation of the return of Moorroongo, who had gone off with a party
for the purpose of cutting spears, with which the friends of his stepson
(Miago) might be able to act either offensively or defensively as
circumstances should require. As I conceived that there was every
possibility of Mulligo's having sufficient strength left to linger
through the night, and as the evening was fast closing in, after a little
casual conversation with the natives I returned home.

MOURNING WOMEN. THEIR SONGS AND CEREMONIES.

June 15.

Soon after daybreak I reached the entrance of Mulligo's hut: he was alive
but his respiration was scarcely visible. His head rested on his mother's
knees, and her withered breasts now rested on his lips as she leant
crying over him; other women were seated round, their heads all verging
to a common centre over the wasted frame of the dying man; they were
crying bitterly and scratching their cheeks, foreheads, and noses with
their nails until the blood trickled slowly from the wounds. The men in
the front of the huts were busied in finishing off their spears, ready
for the coming fight.

I stood for some time watching the mournful scene, but other native
females soon began to arrive; they came up in small parties, generally by
threes, marching slowly forward with their wan-nas (a long stick they use
for digging up roots) in their hands; the eldest female walked first, and
when they approached within about thirty or forty yards of the hut in
which the dying man lay they raised the most piteous cries, and, hurrying
their pace, moved rapidly towards the point where the other women were
seated, recalling the custom