THE GREAT WOLLUNQUA

The Warramunga believe just as firmly in the existence of mythical ancestors as do the Arunta. In the far past time that they speak of as “ Wingara,” these ancestors are supposed to have walked about the country, making all the natural features that are visible to-day. They were half-animals or half-plants, as the case may be, only, instead of a lot of kangaroos, or emus, or snakes, marching about together, as we meet with in the Arunta tales, according to the Warramunga tribe there was usually only one individual. In the Arunta some of the ancestors went down into the ground, that is died and left their spirit parts behind at various places ; but, in the Warramunga, the one great ancestor was provided with a large number of small spirits which he carried about with him and deposited when he came to suitable places. Some striking natural feature, easily seen by the natives, such as a waterhole, a prominent rock or a large gum tree, always arose to mark the places at which he rested and left his spirits behind. The Warramunga perform ceremonies commemorative of these ancestors, just as the Arunta and in fact all the native tribes inhabiting Central Australia do, and the time occupied by their performance may run into months.