Atondido Stories
they held up their red heads, painted so in contrast to their
French-grey bodies, which they deemed too dull a colour, un-
brightened, for such a gay occasion. Amongst the many tribes
there, too numerous to mention, were the rose and grey painted
Galabs, the green and crimson painted Billai; most brilliant were
they with their bodies grass green and their sides bright crim-
son, so afterwards gaining them the name of crimson wings. The
bright little Gidgereegahs came too.
Great was the gathering that Bootoolgah, the crane, and
Goonur, the kangaroo rat, found assembled as they hurried on
to the scene. Bootoolgah had warned Goonur that they must on-
ly be spectators, and take no active part in the corrobboree, as
they had to guard their combee. Obedient to his advice, Goonur
seated herself beside him and slung the comebee over her arm.
Bootoolgah warned her to be careful and not forget she had it.
But as the corrobboree went on, so absorbed did she become that
she forgot the comebee, which slipped from her arm. Happily,
Bootoolgah saw it do so, replaced it, and bade her take heed, so
baulking Beeargah, who had been about to seize it, for his vigi-
lance was unceasing, and, deeming him sick almost unto death,
the two whom lie was watching took no heed of him. Back he
crouched, moaning as he turned, but keeping ever an eye on
Goonur. And soon was he rewarded. Now came the turn of the
Bralgahs to dance, and every eye but that of the watchful one
was fixed on them as slowly they came into the ring. First they
advanced, bowed and retired, then they repeated what they had
done before, and again, each time getting faster and faster in
their movements, changing their bows into pirouettes, craning
their long necks and making such antics as they went through
the figures of their dance, and replacing their dignity with such
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