their ways") remarks concerning a dance of the Dieyerie tribe:
"This dance men and women only take part in, in regular form and
position, keeping splendid time to the rattle of the beat of two
boomerangs; some of the women keep time by clapping their hands
between their thighs; promiscuous sexual intercourse follows
after the dance; jealousy is forbidden." Again, at the Mobierrie,
or rat-harvest, "many weeks' preparation before the dance comes
off; no quarreling is allowed; promiscuous sexual intercourse
during the ceremony." The fact that jealousy is forbidden at
these festivals clearly indicates that sexual intercourse is a
recognized and probably essential element in the ceremonies. This
is further emphasized by the fact that at other festivals open
sexual intercourse is not allowed. Thus, at the Mindarie, or
dance at a peace festival (when a number of tribes comes
together), "there is great rejoicing at the coming festival,
which is generally held at the full of the moon, and kept up all
night. The men are artistically decorated with down and feathers,
with all kinds of designs. The down and feathers are stuck on
their bodies with blood freshly taken from their penis; they are
also nicely painted with various colors; tufts of boughs are tied
on their ankles to make a noise while dancing. Promiscuous sexual
intercourse is carried on _secretly_; many quarrels occur at this
time." (_Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, vol. xxiv,
November, 1894, p. 174.)

In Australian dances, sometimes men and women dance together,
sometimes the men dance alone, sometimes the women. In one dance
described by Eyre: "Women are the chief performers; their bodies
are painted with white streaks, and their hair adorned with
cockatoo feathers. They carry large sticks in their hands, and