The beautification recipes of the natives consist of ochre, pipe-clay, charcoal and fat; the latter constitutes the base of all artful lines and scribbles with which they decorate their person. As a protection against the cold in winter and against the bites of mosquitoes, ants and other insects in summer, the fat proves to be very useful. Its application during very hot weather also provides relief. The pipe clay is made from plaster [gypsum] which is burned in the fire and then mixed with enough water to form a tough thin paste.

During the preparations for a corroboree one of the very important moments in the process of the ceremony is the ‘arranging’ or ‘making up’. The men adorn face, body and limbs with lines and fantastical drawings in white and red. This requires some hours of patient work and great care and effort are spent on the details. The men carry a feather quill or a piece of grass or bone in the nasal septum and their heads are decorated in a tremendous and wonderful way.