Show QUEER RITES OF SAVAGES tr bes of control austral a who tor ture themselves there are two fire ceremonies pe cul ar to the arunta and pun tribes of central australia the first of these is the final initiation and consists in tie pre of a large number of dra matic performances perform arces representing the doings of the ancestors of the tribe fin shag with certain file ceremonies in connect on pitr some of which the women throwing burning embers over the men and in others the men have to lie down on red hot embers cov ered over with green branches the rearing of this ceremony is not known but the natives state that it makes the men who pass through it what they call good alaci fellows in the second ceremony certain men sant up in a bush hut and others arm themselves with long poles to which are attached great quantities of gum tree twigs the men daub them selves all over with pipe clay and mud and the poles which are handed to the party inside the hut being set fire to are 1 eted into the air and brought down upon all and sundry with whom the party came in contact the natives say the object of this ceremony is to finally settle up all old quarrels and start afresh |