W. Hymus, E.A.A. Fawcett and Robert Scott of Murray District.
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| No. XII 2B. 27-28 | |
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To be Compared with Monnop's Vocabulary Victoria Plains area etc. Angel with Ngalyart's Vocabulary which Covers Pinjarra etc. |
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| 2 | |
| Native Vocabulary | |
| Compare with Ngalyart's Vocabulary Pinjarra etc. DMB | |
| Compiled from Vocabularies Contributed by | |
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W. Hymus, Pinjarra E.A.A. Fawcett, Pinjarra Robert Scott, Pinjarra |
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| Murray Magisterial District | |
| (Correct Vocabulary Received from Ngalyart | |
| Baby | Koolung |
| Blackfellow | Yungar, nyung'ar, nung'ar |
| Blackwoman | ya'goo, yokka |
| Boy | koolung |
| Brother | wandun (?), ngoonda |
| Child | koolang, koolong |
| Children | koolongur |
| Daughter | kwarra |
| Daughter -in-law | kumba |
| Father | ma'-ma, mamman |
| Father-in-law | kungoo, gungoo |
| Girl | kwarra |
| Granddaughter | mungun kwarra (?) |
| Grandfather, grandmother | murran, mooran |
| Husband | kardoo |
| Man | mammerup (old = battitch) |
| Mother | nungun, ngunga, ngungan |
| Mother-in-law | mungat |
| Nephew | my-yoor |
| Orphan | nungabroo |
| Sister | jooko, geekoo, jooka |
| Sister-in-law | woolyar |
| Son | koolung mungun |
| White man | janga, junga, tchinga |
| White woman | yagoo junga |
| Widow, widower | yeenung |
| Wife | kardoo, korda |
| Woman (young) | mundagurra |
| Woman (old) | yokka battitch |
| Ankle | bil'ga |
| Arm (left) | doorar |
| Arm (lower) | mar'a'ga, merrika |
| Arm (upper) | maraga, merrika genterm? (jerdum?) |
| Back | koonga, koynga |
| Backbone | boy-allee (?) |
| Beard | nun'ga, nurnga |
| Blood | woobul, ngoopa |
| Bone | koojee, kooje genterm? (jerdum?) kweja |
| Bowels | kobbela, gobbel |
| Breast, breasts | bibbee, ngundoo, ngornda |
| Breath | wa'garr |
| Breathe, to | wa-garr kwart |
| Calf of leg | ma-ta |
| Cheek | yooree |
| Chest | nandoo |
| Chin | na'-nik |
| Coition ; copulate, to | mooyang |
| Drink, to | gabbee ngunga (?), gabbee nanning ngunna ? |
| Ear | dwonga, donga, dwonka |
| Eat, to | nal'go, ngunga (?) ngunna, ngannin |
| Elbow | ny'yung |
| Eyeball | mingat |
| Eye | mēl |
| Face | yoorda, oodoo |
| Fat | boyn |
| Fatigue | beeda-babba |
| Feeling | bar'ring |
| Finger | marra |
| Finger nail | beera, bē'-ree |
| Foot | jenna |
| Frowning | karrung |
| Generative organ (f.) | darrdee (?) |
| Hair | kuddup, jow'wo, jow'wa |
| Hand | marra, genterm (?), marraga |
| Head | katta |
| 5 | |
| Hearing | kuddee |
| Heart | koodoo, koorda, koorda kallar ungeer |
| Heel | jenna mondan |
| Hipbone | koolagee, koolajee |
| Instep | jinna koojee |
| Jaw | narra gooree |
| Kidney | joopa |
| Knee | bon'-nee, bwonitch |
| Leg | ma'ta |
| Lip | daa |
| Liver | my-yer |
| Lung | wol-yel |
| Mouth | karrigee, daa |
| Nape of the neck | nanga |
| Neck | wardoo |
| Nose | moolya |
| Palm of the hand | marra |
| Penis | mā-da |
| Perspiration, perspire | ban'ya |
| Rump | moo'roo |
| Seeing | mēl-um, ngin'-a (?) |
| Semen | kurndung |
| Sinew | kwer-ak |
| Shoulder | mon'goo, jirdum |
| Skin | yellyn (flesh?), mopa |
| Skeleton | koojee |
| Sleep | beejar, bee-yal |
| Smell, to | moolya, mundung bee'gal |
| Sneeze, to | nittee yungal |
| Speak, to | wan'ga, wangee |
| Stink, to | bajjuk |
| Stomach | kobbul |
| Tears | meening (?), meering |
| Teeth | ngolga, ngulga |
| Thigh | dowel |
| Thirsty | kabba we'nin |
| Throat | wardoo |
| 6 | |
| Tongue | dellyn, dallyn |
| Urinate, to | koombo |
| Walk, to | yannin, wattoo, yenna |
| Wrist | mad'deegar |
| Yawn, to | dar-man-gun |
| Bandicoot | kweenda, kwonynda |
| Cat, native | barrajiddee |
| Dog, dingo | dwarda, yakkyn, dooda yakkyn, yakkyn dooda |
| Kangaroo | male = yowart, female = warra yongar |
| Kangaroo, Brush | koora |
| Kangaroo, rat | walya, walyow |
| Kangaroo, Silver grey | koora |
| Mouse | mardoo, murdo |
| Oppossum, large grey | goomal, koomal |
| Opossum, ring-tailed | ngowra |
| Pig | makkaroo, mak'roo |
| Porpoise | warranoo |
| Rat (generic) | koondee |
| Rat, water | ngoorajoo, moorajoo |
| Wallaby | burngup, walloo |
| Bald, coot, red bill | koolemee |
| Bird's egg | noo'rokoo, narragoo, noorga |
| Birds' nest | mya |
| Bustard, wild turkey | peepilyar, peepilyarra |
| Butcher bird | beebilyerung |
| Cockatoo, Black, red tail | karrak, kurrik |
| Cockatoo, Black, white tail | moolak, ngoolak, ngoolok |
| Cockatoo, white, southern variety | mun'ytch, manyt |
| Cormorant, large black | koorokoo |
| Cormorant, small black | ma'de |
| Crane, Blue | wy'an |
| Crow | wordung, kwakkum |
| Crow, shrike (squnker) | jilluk |
| Duck, Grey or black | ngoonana, moonana, ngwarn |
| Duck, Musk | kootera, katarra |
| Duck, Wood-duck | marramanna |
| Eagle | wolja, kwaddelbur |
| Eaglehawk | wolja |
| Emu | wē-jee |
| Laughing Jackass | goorbat |
| Magpie | dirroo, koorabar |
| Mopoke | wo-wo, wilyoo |
| owl, common | yanoo |
| Owl, marbled | binnera |
| Parrot | dow'wan, dowern |
| Parrot, Blue-ballied, red-cap | tummaluk |
| Parrot, King | damaluk |
| Parrot, Twenty-eight | dow'ern |
| Pelican | bootalung |
| Pigeon | woota |
| Quail | mooreetch |
| Shag | koorokoo, mā-de |
| Swamp-hen, coot | koo'lameer, koolema |
| Swan | koljuk, koljak |
| Teal | wim'bee |
| Catfish | mooyooda, mooyadoo |
| Cobbler | mooyadoo (fresh water cobbler) |
| Crayfish | goonak, jilgee |
| Mullet | kalle kudda, kulkurda |
| Mussel | murrarl |
| Salmon | millok |
| Shark | mondo |
| Silver bream | kuttern |
| Whiting | too'dyn |
| Yellowtail | kunnoodoo |
| Frog, edible | kooya |
| Frog (generic) | kooya |
| Frog, large green | bokkoon |
| Iguana (generic) | kadda |
| Iguana, long-tailed | kor'raga, kordarra, kurdarra |
| Iguana, stump-tailed | yooanna, yoorna |
| Lizard, large black | bootata, botarta |
| Snake (generic) | noona, doobytch, waugal |
| Tadpole | wij-joot (?) |
| Turtle, fresh water | booyē, boo-illee |
| Ant (generic) | kooljoo |
| Ant's nest | bul'olla |
| Ant (sergeant) | kal-lil |
| Bardie (grub) | burdee |
| Flea | koolon, koolo |
| Fly (generic) | yoodoo, noodoo, noorda |
| Leech | nin'imee |
| Louse | koolo |
| Mosquito | nun'ganung |
| Sandfly | yoodoo |
| Afternoon | karraballa |
| Atmosphere | marr |
| Banksia | mungytch |
| Cabbage tree | mootcheroo, moojerool |
| Christmas tree | mootcheroo, moojerool |
| Clay, red | wilgee |
| Cloud | marr, māra |
| Cold | kurreejarl, karrajarra, nyittyn, kurreejal |
| Cone of banksia | meejoo |
| Country (open) | burnytch |
| Country (swampy) | mantoon |
| Dark | marrerduk, geetaluk, mar'ada |
| Dawn | nunga yarribee |
| Day | meeryt, beeryt, werla |
| Daylight | worloo, werla |
| Dew | meenee, mē-nee |
| Dust | doolba |
| earth, the | boojur |
| Estuary | derribal |
| Evening | karraballa |
| Feather | narraboo yoo'doolee |
| Fire | kala, kalla |
| Floods | gabbooduggan |
| Frost | yunda, yoonda |
| Fruit | boolla kwardyn |
| Grass | badda, batta |
| Ground (surface of) | boojur |
| Gum tree (red) | mundup |
| Gum tree (white) | wandoo |
| Hill | katta, moordoo |
| Hole | karrup, kurrup |
| Island | koodoo |
| Jarrah tree | jerryl, jarril |
| Lake | tabal |
| Land | noongal (?) |
| Light | worla, kala, ngwalungaryt |
| Lightning | babbingar (?), wogarr, yeerda, weetoo |
| 10 | |
| Moon | meekee, meggee, meeka |
| Moonlight | meegung, meekung |
| Mountain | katta mammerup |
| Mountainous country | katta mammerup |
| Mud, muddy | narnoo |
| Night | marerduk, geetaluk |
| Paper-bark tree | moodoot, yoombuk |
| Plain | burnytch |
| Rain | gabbee, kabba |
| Rain (heavy) | gabbee kwert |
| Resin (blackboy) | bweering |
| River | beeloo |
| Road | koonagoo, kongoo, koongo |
| Rock | boo'ya |
| Rush ( a fibre) | batta |
| Sand | kooyar (?) |
| Swa | wootern |
| Shade | malloo |
| Sky | marr (marr) |
| Star | nungal, ngungar, jindang, ngingan |
| Stone | booye, boy'a |
| Sun | nunga, ngungar, ngangarn, nganga |
| Thunder | mulgarra, mulkar, donga |
| Thunderstrorm | bubbung, donga |
| Today | yē-yē, yē-bal |
| Tomorrow | ngaka |
| Tree | boorna |
| Tree, bark of | yoombuk |
| Water | gabbee, kabba |
| Water (deep) | gabbee moorduk |
| Water (salt) | gabbee woodyn |
| Wattle tree | kalyung |
| Wind (east) | mar kungal |
| Wind (north) | mar jerral |
| Wind (south) | mar booyal |
| Wind ( west) | mar woodart |
| Yesterday | karinya |
| zamia | by-yoo; kurrerkoon= kernel |
| Abundance | boola |
| Afraid | wy'anee, wy-in |
| Alone | doombart |
| Anger | kurrung |
| Approach, to | yooal |
| Ashes | kalla yooda |
| Ask, to | wanga |
| At once | yē-yē |
| Back, to go | weddoo |
| Bad | wakkyn, windoo, windong, warra wakkyn |
| Bag | koota |
| Bag in which child is carried | koota |
| Bandy legged | mata ngēlin |
| Barb of a spear | mungarra |
| Bark, as a dog, to | dooda wanga |
| Bark, used for making huts | yoombuk, booba (?) |
| Bathe, to | derriba |
| Battle | bukkij |
| Beat, to | booma |
| Belt | noolbun |
| Big | wardaguttuk |
| Bite, to | bakkan, bukkin |
| Black | mooarn |
| Bleed, to | moorboo kurreeung |
| Blind | mēl burra |
| Board, for throwing spear | wommero, meero |
| Body | il'lang |
| Boggy ground | narnoo |
| Bony | kojje |
| Boomerang | kē'lee, ky'lee |
| Bring me | konga, koonga |
| Bush | mantoon |
| By and by | minawarra, boorda boorda, boorda meel |
| Camp, native | kal'al |
| Carry, to, on the shoulders | wandung, jerdum kon'ga |
| 12 | |
| Charcoal | yerrakyl (?), yerraryl (?) |
| Clay | boojur |
| Cloak, to | bookern |
| Close (near) | burdook |
| Club | dowak |
| Coat, a | booka |
| Come on, to | kug-yenna (?) |
| Cook, to | dookurn |
| Crawl, to | murraburra |
| Dead | wanit, wē-nit, wā-na |
| Deaf | donga notto (?) |
| Death | wan'ne'gee |
| Deep | moorduk |
| Dense, scrub | mantoon |
| Devil | jingee, bol'ya |
| Dig, to | boojur bēn, boojul bee'anee |
| Dirty | windoo |
| Drink | gabbee nuning |
| Empty | me'loo |
| Evil spirit | bol-ya |
| Fall, to | wel'yagooroo |
| Family or tribe | nunning mooroo |
| Far away | woorar |
| Firestick | kala madda |
| Five | mara kēn (one hand) |
| Food | marryn |
| Four | maddyn (?) |
| Friend | babbin |
| Frightened | wyin |
| Ghost | janga, koojin |
| Go away, to | watabut (?) |
| Good | kwabba |
| Good, no | windo |
| Grave | booga yē'ga |
| Great | ngoomon |
| Gum, edible | kelyung, kalyoong |
| Gum | wēja bandee, wēja bundee |
| Hair string (wouhd round head) | barloo ? |
| 13 | |
| Half | bungar (?) |
| Hatchet | ka'joo |
| Hate | karree boola |
| He | bal |
| Hear, to | donga, dwonga |
| Heaven | koojeetch (sky?) |
| Heavy | woo-mee-ul |
| Here | alle, ulle |
| Him | bal |
| Honey | mungyt |
| Hungry | koobar (?) |
| I | on'ya, nganua |
| Idle | beedee babba |
| Ill (sick) | kurndung, mindytch |
| Kick | jenna karrung |
| Kiss, a | ninjan |
| Knife | dabba, tabba |
| Know, to | donga |
| Large | ngooman, woomwool |
| Laugh | koagga |
| Lean (thin) | koojee |
| Lie (to lie down) | ngoon'ta, won'dug'a |
| Lie (to tell a) | koolyn, kollyn |
| Light a fire, to | kala dookurn |
| Little | yoomup, gōroomap |
| Long | worree, werda kudda |
| Long (tall) | worree |
| Long ago | kurrum |
| Long hair | jow-wo werdakudda |
| Look, to (to see) | mē-erl |
| Many | boola |
| Matter, from sore | buj-jung |
| Mia (native hut) | mya |
| Milk | bibbee, baba |
| More | karra |
| Murder | danna boogur |
| Naked | booka yooad'da |
| 14 | |
| Name | kwēla |
| Near | burdook |
| Nice | kwabba |
| No | yooadda, yooat |
| North | jerral, jerrarl |
| Nose-stick | mool'yadan'aga |
| Now (at once) | yē'ye, yē'bera |
| One | ken, doombart |
| Pain | mendytch, mindytch |
| Passion | boomung |
| Pinion (wing) | kanber |
| Pit | kurrup, karrup |
| Play, to | wab'bee |
| Plenty | boola |
| Plume, a | ngow'a |
| Pound, to (to beat up) | dookun |
| Provisions | marryn |
| Quick | kit-kit, yē'bera |
| Raw | dal'ya |
| Run away, to | mooraboo |
| Run, to | yookaburt |
| Scratch, to | bee'ana |
| Scream, to | wan'ga dun'na |
| Shadow | mā'loo |
| Shake, to | ur'runga ur'runja |
| She | bal |
| Short | koorat |
| Sick (ill) | mindytch, mendytch |
| Silent, to be | dar'garoo |
| Silly | katta windoo |
| Sinews of kangarro's tail | kwerrak, kweerak |
| Sing, to | eedee wanga |
| Sit down, to | mum'a'ya bar'doo, yooka |
| Small | yoomap, yoomup |
| Smoke, of fires | kurrik, booya |
| Soft | koonyak |
| Song | kwe-la |
| 15 | |
| South | boo'yal |
| Spear, to | gij'ee, gē-jee, geeja |
| Spear, to throw a | ge'jee kwert |
| Stand, to | yarra |
| Stick | dan'aga |
| Stop, to | yootcha |
| Straight | beera |
| Strong | Moodooj |
| Sulky (cross) | kurrung |
| Summer | ber'oo |
| Sweat | ban'ya |
| Sweet | ngungang |
| Swim, to | derriba |
| Take in the hand, to | mara burrong |
| Tall | worree, wooree |
| Ten | mara koojal |
| There | bookaja |
| Thrash, to | booma |
| Three | murdyn, werrung |
| Throw, to | kwert |
| Throwing board | wommere, meero |
| Tomahawk | kuj'oo |
| Track (footprint) | jenna gwarda |
| Trousers | dowel booka |
| Truth | boondoo |
| Two | koojal, goojal |
| Ugly | windoo |
| Unwell | mendytch, mindytch |
| Very bad | wakkyn, windoo |
| Very good | gwabba gwabba |
| Wait, to | boorda |
| Warm | kallarup |
| West | woodarl |
| Wet | gabbee worree |
| Where | winjee |
| white | berrikart |
| Why | yarn |
| 16 | |
| Wicked | windoo, boyar |
| Wood | boornoo |
| Yes | kwa, kya |
| You | yinnee, nyinna |
| Young | koolamuddee |
| Afraid, I am not, of you | Yn unya wyin burra |
| Afraid, What are you, of? | nutchuk wy'ening |
| Asleep, He is | Beejarra, bal beejar |
| Bad, That is very | Alle windoo |
| Bad, You are | Yinna windoo |
| Bury him | Ballan boo'ee'gur |
| Care, Take of | Yallung mun'yung yen'ma |
| Carry this | Ngy'aka konga |
| Come here | Yerka yooal |
| Come in | Mya yooal |
| Cook that | Daaja dookurn |
| Dead, He is | Bal wonnegee |
| Father, He is my | Bal onya mamma |
| Fire, Make a | Kala dookurn |
| Food, Give me | Daaja yunga |
| Gone, Where has he? | Winjee bal watto |
| Ill, You are | Yinna mindytch |
| Know, I | Onya donga |
| Know, I do not | Nganya donga burt |
| Listen to me | Yinna onya kuttitch |
| Mother, She is my | Bal onya ngunga |
| Natives, Where are the? | Yung'ar winjee, nyungar winjal |
| Roots (edible), Where shall I find? | Warryn winjee |
| Sleep, I shall now | Onya yeya beejar |
| Speak, Do not | Wanga burt |
| Spear, Where is your? | Winjee yinna gijee? |
| Stay with me | Yerka yinnee yooka |
| Stop here | Yerka yooka |
| Water, Am I near? | Gabbee bardook |
| Water, Where shall I find? | Winjee gabbe |
| Where are you going? | Winjee yinna watoo |
| Who is that? | Yoolee na (?) |
| wife, Is that your? | yerka yinna kardo |
| William Hymus | |
| 1. I can only state from observation, that they are more partial to blood relations than to others. | |
| 3. The female infants are given away by the father to a male friend, when born. He claims her when she reached maturity, which is about twelve years. | |
| 5. They are buried in their own garments, with their short implements, in a sitting posture, so I have been informed. I have seen their graves with the deceased's spears stuck in the ground. They are afraid of appropriating anything belonging to them, as they think the dead would know it. They scoop out a grave, 3 or 4 ft deep, neatly covered over with earth, with some logs etc. on top. They mourn for the dead, the women scratch a hole in the upper part of the face and blood runs down, also scratch a hole on the top of the head with a sharp bone, till all the hair is actually matted with blood. This I have seen many times with tears running down, accompanied with a low doleful chant, both men and women? black their faces with powdered charcoal for mourning. | |
| 6. The men anoint the hair with oil or fat mixed with wilkie, i.e. red earth, or clay burnt red then powdered, the hair thrown back from the face and some yards of string from opossum hair. The men strip the pen feathers of a white cockatoo, fasten them to a peg which they stick under the band of string which they term nknower (plume). The women are not allowed this decoration. | |
| 7. A thin flat oval piece of board, about 2 ft. long, tapering off nearly to a point both ends, a small piece of melted blackboy gum, a long sin at top end, a sharp peg is then embedded in the gum, a long sinew is then wound tightly round it, covered with a thick coat of gum, formed into a round head, a large piece of gum is then put on the lower end so as to jut out on the right side about 1 1/4 ins. as a catch for the hand when they throw the spear. The halib, a very thin semi-circular piece of wood, 2 in. broad, also a stick about 1 ft. 9" long, 1 in. thick. The former they throw at a flock of cockatoos or ducks, and often kill the latter, dowark, often knocks over a kangaroo rat etc. When short of spears they use them in battle, next tomahawk, made of two stones, cad-jo, native name. | i.e. granite stone, the piece for cutting has a pretty sharp straight edge, the other broad and used as a hammer, both pieces are gummed strongly together. The blackboy gum is made up as follows, the gum is melted, mixed with fine powdered charcoal, then hammered well into the gum while hot, to make tough, as it is brittle by itself. The tomahawks never break with this preparation. Next the dabber, knife, a short stick about a foot long, gummed about half way down, with a row of sharp shells teeth, before they could glass. They could cut their meat with them. I have seen them many years ago eating bits of whale blubber also the bean? holding one end in the mouth men sawing with their knife and cut a mouthful off right in their teeth, that they could chew and swallow over. |
| 18 | |
| 8. For kangaroo they dig a pit in stiff clay soil, about 5 feet deep, 5 ch long, about 1 ft. 6 in. wide, which they visit and occasionally secure a kangaroo, for when it gets into the pit it cannot escape. Another mode is - they discover a flock in a plain, for instance, there may be 100 or more natives hunting. Then they commence to form a circle to leeward. Kangaroo scents them a long way to windward, thus surrounded, they run to leeward. The natives in ambush sure to spear some of them. They also lay in wait for them, where they sleep in a thicket, and have beaten tracks, when disturbed, sure to run back by same track Men are waiting and spear them. They lay in ambush at some watering places for emu and spear them. Another plan - they get a large bough that covers them, can approach to the emu within spear shot. | |
| 9. None whatever, in this part of the State. | They were very fond of whale. In the whaling season years ago, when stripped of the blubber, the carcase was given to the natives, some hundreds of them would be in the neighbourhood of Fremantle on those occasions. |
| 19 | |
| 10. Mahogany, gerrile, boano, red gum, nun-dup, do. white gum, dooto, boono, York gum wandoodo, Banksia, mungite boono, mungite, the flower, mejee, the cone, mootgerrodo, the Cabbage tree or Christmas tree, mootgero, gum of lalyooung black wattle and its gum, dwolker do, small prickly leaf do. dwolker the gum. They have no distinctive name for shrubs or plants etc. | I have asked them, their answer was batter (grass), that included shrubs and plants. The old natives placed no value upon the flowers of the field, did not admire them or deign to look at them. |
| 11. Their laws are the same that we read or in the old Mosaic Pentateuch, viz. eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and I have witnessed several battles and saw a native spear another through the leg when fighting was over the man that speared him came boldly forward and held out his leg, another man thrust a spear through his leg, who then said Babbin, i.e. They were friends. | The same with the women, they fight with the wanner, a long heavy stick, which I have witnessed, are very skilful in cuts and guards, if one strikes her opponent and fetches blood, she is struck afterwards with a force that brings blood. This I have also witnessed. The blow is struck by a man, they are their babbin friends. |
| 12. I do not know what diseases or their ailments, prior to the advent of the Europeans or white man. The measles in 1861 killed them by hundreds. Years prior to that scores suffered from venereal, many died a disease they knew nothing of before the advent of the white man. In their ignorance they actually blamed the woggal (carpet snake, whose bite is not deadly, but causes a sore, sometimes permanent). They used to say Beedjer, sleep, woggarl bucken (bite). The influenza here about 10 years ago took them all or nearly in this part, 1/2 dozen or so left. | |
| 20 | |
| 13. They have no herbal or mineral preparations; nothing in the shape of medicine. They apply to the bollyer (magician) who performs a ceremony of incantation by pinching the patient and making a peculiar throat noise, with certain gestures, which they have great faith in. If they recover the doctor gets the credit, if the patient dies, the blame is laid on the doctor of a distant tribe. The relatives of the deceased go and kill someone of that tribe by way of revenge. | For a fresh wound they apply hot ashes. |
| 14. Their songs are extempore and consist of three long unmusical notes. They sing the glory of some great triumph or performance, or what under certain circumstances they will do. | |
| 15. For amusement to begin with, and boring the young men's noses with a sharp kangaroo bone which is kept there till the wound heals. The hole is bored through the bridge of the nose; and almost certain to wind up with a battle, of which the women are the cause, generally. I am describing the customs of the natives over 50 years ago, who have all long passed away. | |
| 16. I am well acquainted with the territory from ?rance to Mandurah. I here give a brief account of the country from Marrub-bel-up (native name), 5 miles south of Mandurah, to Stake Hill, 12 1/2 miles of Mandurah (Yaa-jelup), a length of 7 1/2 miles, with an average breadth of say 4 miles, from Serpentine River eastern boundary that runs parallel with the coastline that distance with an average breadth of say 4 miles, which I think is about correct, 7 1/2 x 4 = 30 sq. Miles. | |
| 17. All one tribe in Murray district. | |
| 18. This is a continuation from the above 30 sq. miles. There are 22 estates that I can give the names of, within the above area, I think that is about all. I may have omitted one or two, claimed by the native owners. The limits of each estate are as follows: viz. 30 + 22 = 1 acre, 1 qr .4 in each estate. | They have no boundary lines but seems to know when they cross from one boundary to another. In all probability there were 22 families claiming these 22 estates, with say 3 in a family, 22 x 3 = 66. They 66 ÷ 30 (0.5 nearly to each sq. mile). |
| 19. All can converse and understand each other, from Guildford, to the Vasse, and much further, I believe. | |
| 20. No,/ not that I ever heard of. | |
| 21 | |
| 21. Native foods from Guildford to the Vasse, the same. Fish and game by the spear, the roots by digging with the wonner, cooked by fire. I may state that 50 years ago there were about 100 natives in neighbourhood of Pinjarrah, about 10 now, a decrease of 90%. Supposing the native population from the Vasse to York to have been 3000 at the above period, reduced now by 90%, would amount now to only 300. This calculation I think is approximately correct. | |
| 22. Never possessed any vessels for that purpose. | |
| 23. The natives here were never cannibals. They appear disgusted and horrified at the idea, at least they have expressed themselves to that effect to me. | |
| 24. The blackboy stick, kuljup, one piece about 18 in. Long which is placed flat on the ground with one foot bearing on each end, in a sitting posture, to keep it steady. Another piece 2 1/2 'long, then made a small cavity in the centre of the stick pressed by the feet, the long piece is then inserted and held perpendicularly with each hand, right and left side, side of the stick rubbing the palms of the hands in opposite directions, causing the upright to whirl backwards and forwards with great velocity; in a few seconds it begins to smoke, when the upright stick has bored about one third of its way through the short stick, a notch is cut on the side of the short stick so the fine dust, i.e. now alight, falls down the notch on some dry stuff from the head of the blackboy, that soon ignites from the fine dust of the bore, and with a blow from mouth kindles. | |
| 25. They obtain water from a protuberance, or belly, on the paperbark tree (umebuk). They cut it with a tomahawk (cadjo) about an inch or so through the wood, the water runs out clear and cool and somewhat acid. I have obtained several gallons from a large protuberance. It stakes thirst and acts as an aperient in a mild form. | |
| 26. They believe in a supreme power in the shape of a malignant spirit, which afflicts them, with all the evils that flesh is heir to. When they die this spirit kills them. They term it bollyer. There are always some among them possessed with this bollyer, which gives them great power, to kill or make alive, etc. They, think they should never die. They always blame bollyer for sickness and death. Note my paper recently forwarded. | |
| 22 | |
| 27. They believe in ghosts, jangar, but know nothing of heaven or hell. They believe in a future state in some shape or form. | |
| 28. It is by witchcraft and sorcery, practised by the men possessed of bollyer. They were much revered by the rest of their community. | |
| 29. Not that I am aware of. | |
| 30. No. | |
| 31. Should any man spear and kill another, he has to go right away to some hiding place, during which time he has to be careful not to make any smoke, or the avengers would find and kill him at once. | |
| 32. They know heat from cold, day from night, light from dark, and appear quite contented with that limited knowledge, as long as they get anough to eat. | |
| Note : All these answers to questions refer to the very old natives only who have long since passed away. | |
| The old aborigines in time of peace, were as a rule kind and considerate to each other, amicably and generous. Always shared the good things with each other ungrudgingly, in fact they had all things in common which I have frequently witnessed. The mothers are exceedingly kind to their offspring, the fathers too, but when their savage blood is up they become furiously made, shipping their spears, jumping and stamping in an outrageous manner, with the whites of the eye turned up, and cram their chin whiskers in them mouth and bite with the teeth, away goes the spear with lightning speed, They seldom hit each other in fair fighting, they dodge out of the way of the spear, in an instant. Their agility in this respect was most astonishing. I have witnessed it in several battles. I may add, the old natives were very fond of blood. I was in the habit of taking one with me when kangaroo hunting, on foot as they could track the dogs, and kangaroos, at a running pace, Upon opening to take out its entrails, would bale out the blood with their hands and drink with great zest. | |
Sir, Kindly excuse all defects in this compilation, and hope that in some degree it will prove satisfactory. Any further services that I can render will do with pleasure, to the best of my ability, of which kindly inform me. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedt. Servant, W. Hymus M.A.C. Fraser, Esq. Govt. Statistician, Perth. |
| 4. I think I am correct in stating that Edianne a native woman, now living had several black children, then a half caste boy Arthur, and since one or two full-blooded blacks. This could be verified. | |
| 5. There are two burying places in our paddock near our house. | The dead were placed in a sitting position, the legs drawn up knees nearly touching chin. Native women sweeping the grave every day for a month. Spears, pannican and tobacco having been placed on the grave. |
| 6. The men only dress their hair twisting round possum wool string (which they make themselves), and sticking in notched sticks, on grand occasions they well greas their hair and powder it with shavings of their spears or swan's down. | |
| 7. Kilies, boomerang, spears, women carry a wanner, long stick with which they dig roots and also fight. They used paper bark baskets rudely made by tying a broad strip of bark at either end with rushes; in these they carried water. Every woman carried a bag (couter) made of kangaroo skin at her back in which she carried the baby, food, clothes and everything else they had. | |
| 22. They heated water in paperbark put into hot ashes. | |
| 24. Blackboy sticks. | |
| 26. The natives believed in a devil - jin-gie - who was always trying to kill them and they had some idea of being pursued by him, when their only chance of safety was in crossing water, when the evil spirit stopped to look at himself giving them time to get away. | |
| 27. They believed in a future state and held that black people "jumped up white fellow" - an an instance of this, the place now known as Pinjarra Park was the "place" of a certain native named Manil who died and was buried on the place (the present vineyard) when the late owner Captain Fawcett took possession they said he was Manil and always called him so and even went so far as to call his wife Malech, the wife of Manil. | |
| 32. By moons, things happened last moon or two moons ago. |
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