AMSD - Message Stick CPM1956P472F67

Coordinates WGS84

12°15'S, 136°54'E
-12.25, 136.89

CPM1956P472F67_DG

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

Description: A message stick made by Matarman at Yirrkala and sent to his brother, Malarapan, in Darwin, requesting items

Message: A request for items

Creator of Object: Matarman

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

Motif transcription: On Fig. 67 D is the figure of Malarapan, the recipient. The meanings for the various lines are: a, two white shirts; b, two khaki shirts; c, one blue coat; d, two belts; e, two knives; f, two khaki shorts; g, two long white trousers; and h, a hat. The border of short lines is decoration. The symbols on Fig. 67G (on which the figure of Matarman, the sender, is engraved) indicate the goods required by Matarman's wife: j, two bottles of hair oil; k, two combs; l, a looking-glass; m, two small belts; n, two dresses; o, a singlet; p, two belts, white; q, two more small belts; r, a pair of scissors. The zigzag lines, s, t, u, w, x, z, are 'asking' marks.

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 on coordinates: Absolute coordinates for Yirrkala

Notes: 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. Figure designed by Jean Truran

Media Files:

Data Entry: Alexandra Roginski