BMA1946_0003_5_E

Title: A message stick sent by Mowarra Ganambarra and Gunguyuma Dhamarrandji to R. M. Berndt at Yirrkala promising to deliver a djuda pole (five of five in a set)

Description: Berndt object file description: "Made from a blonde wood, rectangular with incised meaningful designs. Some have fur or wool attachments. Two have been red ochred before incising.</p> 2” to 3” in length </p> MANUFACTURE: Specific: Made of soft ‘milk-wood’ and engraved with sharp stone chips.</p> Human hair has been used on one (a)</p> General (throughout Australia): Usually made from gidyea, ti-tree, or any other convenient wood; coloured black, yellow or red and ranging from 2-4’ in length. The sticks may be of various shapes from flat to round with a variety of patterns. A twig in the rough may also be used marked in various places, or a bundle of rags tied round with twine or cotton etc. Holes or notches as well as engraved markings may be used on the sticks."

Message: «We will make promised djuda pole and send it to Yirrkala. Gunguyuma has an injured heel. All is well but expect delay»</p> From: Mowarra Ganambarr and Gunguyuma Dhamarrandji in Arnhem Bay</p> Sent: 14 April, 1947 in the hands of Mawalan</p> To: Ronald M Berndt</p> Subject: progress on djuda pole</p> Berndt object file: "e) Sent by Mora and Guŋoilma to Mawalan (Riradingu mada) to let the collector (R.M.B.) know that they intend to make a new djuda pole with feathered tassels and bring it from Arnhem Bay to Yirrkalla (see detail below). Guŋoilma had a sore heel and had consequently been delayed in coming to Yirrkalla to see R.M.B. and so sent this to also let him know that all was well.</p> [sketch of object]</p> a=djuda sacred rangga (djuda tree), an old one</p> b= djanda goanna</p> [diagonal lines] tassels"

Creator of Object: Sender: Mowarra Ganambarr / Gunguyuma Dhamarrandji</p> Messenger: Mawalan</p> Recipient: Ronald M Berndt</p> Berndt object file: "(e) was also sent to the collector via Mawalan", "INFORMANT: [...] Mawalan (e)"; "ORIGINATOR(S): (e) Mora (Adiwi mada dua moiety) or Guŋoilma (Djanbad-boiŋa mada, dua moiety)"

Date Created: 1947

Notes on date created: Object file: "April 14th, 1947". Note that the Berndts arrived in Yirrkala in September 1946 (Gray 2012) and left again in July 1947 (Gray 2005)

Item type: message stick in a collection

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: NT

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Djapu Austlang: N145 - Djapu Glottolog: djap1238

Linguistic area 2: Chirila: Dhangu Austlang: N192 - Dhangu Glottolog: dhan1270

Notes on linguistic areas: Sent from Arnhem Bay to Yirrkala. Arnhem Bay technically intersects with Yolngu, Djapu and Dhay'yi country. Here it is assigned to Djapu since this is on the eastern Yirrkala-side of the bay. More refinement is necessary. Berndt object file: "Wálamba (or Murngin) people". For the Berndts' understanding of these terms see especially pp50-53 of Schebeck, Bernhard. 2001. Dialect and social groupings in Northeast Arnheim [Arnhem] Land. Munich: Lincom Europa.

Cultural region: TopEnd_arnhem_east

Semantic domains: purpose_news, sd_activity_ceremony, sd_animal_goanna, sd_injury, sd_item_djudapole, sd_place_arnhembay, sd_place_yirrkala

Institution/Holder file: Berndt Museum object identifier: 1946/0003.1-5

Collector: Berndt, RM & CH

Coordinates: 12°37'3.428400"S,136°15'23.677200"E  (-12.617619, 136.256577)

Media copyright: Berndt Museum

Notes: 12.12.2024 PK: Milminyina Dhamarrandji is a living descendant of Gunguyuma Dhamarrandji (represented as "Guŋoilma" by R. M. Berndt) 10.12.2024 PK: A typed version of the object file is in PK's 'Notes on message sticks' document, under Berndt, Ronald M. 1947. Message sticks key card: 681. Perth: Berndt Archive. BERNDT1946_0003_5_E

Media Files:

Data Entry: Piers Kelly