AMSD - Message Stick CPM1956P470F66

Coordinates WGS84

12°15'S, 136°54'E
-12.25, 136.89

CPM1956P470F66_GH

Title: A message stick from Yirrkala reproduced in Mountford's "Art, myth and symbolism" (1956)

Description: A message stick from Wondjuk to Buramin requesting goods

Message: A message from Wondjuk at Yirrkala to Buramin in Darwin requesting a mirror, hair oil, long trousers, a shirt, tobacco, blankers, a skirt and calico. p. 469

Creator of Object: Wondjuk

Date Created: 1948

Notes on date created: American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land

Item type: image of a message stick (artefact missing)

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: NT

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Dhangu Austlang: N192 - Dhangu Glottolog: dhan1270

Notes on linguistic areas: The origin of the message stick is Yirrkala PK: Dhangu is the probable Yolngu variety associated with Yirrkala

Cultural region: TopEnd_arnhem_east

Motifs: One side of the message stick, Fig. 66H, dealt with goods required by Wondjuk; the other, Fig 66G, those required by his wife. On Fig. 66H, a is a request for a mirror, b for hair oil, c long trousers, d a shirt, the multiple lines, e, on the left, many sticks of tobacco, and f, a number of blankets. On Fig. 66G, m is a request for a skirt for Wondjuk's wife, n for calico, and o for a belt.

Sources:

Charles P Mountford, 'Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, 1, Art, Myth and Symbolism' (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1956).

Source types: book

Date collected: 1948

Collector: Charles P Mountford and AASEAL

Place collected: Yirrkala

Coordinates: 12°15'10.000800"S,136°53'30.001200"E (-12.252778, 136.891667)

Notes: Mountford carried this message stick from Wondjuk at Yirrkala to Buramin in Darwin. Mountford wrote that "Whilst at Yirrkalla and Oenpelli I had to fly to Darwin several times on expedition matters. Each time I went one or more aborigines have me message sticks to deliver to their friends at Darwin. My procedure (after I had made a record of the message stick either by a sketch or a rubbing) was to write the meanings of the various symbols on a sheet of paper, wrap the paper round the message stick and enclose it in an envelope, on the outside of which I wrote the name of the recipient as a guide to my memory. When I delivered the message stick, which I did on all but two occasions, I was able to explain to the recipient the significance of the marks on the message stick by referring to my notes." p. 467. Figure designed by Jean Truran

Media Files:

Data Entry: Alexandra Roginski