“Don’t take this personally…But the Aborigines take the religious side of the corroboree very seriously.   A corroboree is sort of a cross between a prayer-meeting at church and a meeting of the local council.   The sanctity of the religious side must be protected above all else.   The idea of a white man attending a corroboree is akin to blasphemy in your religion.”

“Oh, I see,” said Ernie, joking although genuinely annoyed at his exclusion.   “They’re racists!”

Garbarla chuckled a little nervously, and then said, “Anyway, we’ll soon get our chance to see the damage done to the countryside by Mamaragan last night.   When we go out hunting today.”

But when they got back to Debbie Bulilka’s hut, they found the middle-aged lubra standing by the door grinning nervously at their approach.   Debbie and Garbarla exchanged words in their native tongue — the initial pleasantries soon changing to an angry exchange.   Finally, as Debbie turned and stormed back into the metal-sided hut, Garbarla explained to Ernie, “We’ve been demoted.”

“Demoted…?   What…?”

“We’ve been taken off the hunting party.   Gunbuk and the others have already gone out.”

Looking stunned, Ernie asked, “What?   Can they do that?”

“Oh yes they can do it all right.   The Aboriginal society is a commune set-up; everyone has to be prepared to help out wherever they’re needed most.   Even the most experienced hunters like Gunbuk and Judawali can be made to do menial work for a while, if that’s where they’re needed most…And let’s face it, you and I are hardly the most expert of hunters with either spear or boomerang.”

“That’s true enough,” agreed Ernie, ” but I thought the whole point of me being here at all was so that I could go out on the daily hunting parties?”

Nodding his agreement, Garbarla said, “That was my whole point to wanting you here.   But since I didn’t get the permission of the Elders first, they’re hardly bound by what I want.”

“But why have they taken us off hunting?”

“Officially Debbie says they have moved us because the Elders want my re-education into tribal life to include other skills besides hunting and tracking.”