They make a series of horizontal weals across the chest, abdomen and back, with vertical marks on the upper arms. As well as these decorative markings there may also be self-inflicted scars from wounds made during mourning ceremonies. Men's thighs or arms may also be scarred with wounds inflicted during a duel or tribal punishment usually using a spear. Quite often tribal law is enforced by the spearing of the offending person by relatives or a tribal elder. The offender will be required to stand and be speared by the aggrieved parties.
Tribal law is decided on by the respective elders and can be incredibly harsh.
Body painting and scarification celebrate the passage of rites of the Australian Aboriginal from birth. During the long suckling period mothers and babies are painted white and from that point on the body is used as a veritable religious icon. Although there is no true female circumcision amongst the tribes of Australia, the girls undergo a physical operation, which in far north-western Queensland took the form of introcision of the vagina. This was performed on the brides and the posterior vaginal margin, known as the fourchette, was torn and the hymen artificially ruptured. At puberty both girls and boys face tooth excision.