. Across Australia . ■*» iX XVI LIFE IN THE WARRAMUNGA CAMP 387 of white cockatoos. At that time of the day we did notfeel personally inclined to take any special interest inwhite cockatoos, but it was evidently a very serious matterto the natives. The ceremony consisted in, at first oneman and, later on, two standing up and crying outwithout more than a few minutes cessation, Hak-hakha-ha-ak ha-ak hak. It was a most excellent imitationof the cry of the white cockatoos, but, after hours ofrepetition, it grew very monotonous. The performancestarted at 3 and ended at 7 At its close the
. Across Australia . ■*» iX XVI LIFE IN THE WARRAMUNGA CAMP 387 of white cockatoos. At that time of the day we did notfeel personally inclined to take any special interest inwhite cockatoos, but it was evidently a very serious matterto the natives. The ceremony consisted in, at first oneman and, later on, two standing up and crying outwithout more than a few minutes cessation, Hak-hakha-ha-ak ha-ak hak. It was a most excellent imitationof the cry of the white cockatoos, but, after hours ofrepetition, it grew very monotonous. The performancestarted at 3 and ended at 7 At its close theold leader—the head man of the white cockatoo totem—had subsided on the ground with only a faint squeakleft in him, while his companion—a younger man—wasnot much better. As for us, after the first hour wewrapped our rugs round us and lay down on the hardground, wishing that every white cockatoo in the countrywas shot and stuffed. At 7 the performance came toa close with a ceremony in which a man of th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectethnolo, bookyear1912
