CPM1958P104F5C

Title: A message stick from Muranapi, reproduced by Mountford (1958)

Description: Fig. 5c is another message stick sent to Muranapi, this time to the Mandubuka (blow-fly) totemic group. The central lines, a, a, at both ends of the purunkita represent the salt­water creek, Duniau. On this creek is the totemic place, d, a rock about thirty feet long and six feet above the level of high tide. The transverse lines, b, b, etc., are freshwater creeks which flow into Duniau. The sloping cuts within rectangle d, symbolize cracks in the totemic rock of Mandubuka. The remainder of the sloping cuts, as at c, c, etc., represent bloodwood trees and other eucalypts growing on the banks of the freshwater streams. Marks f, f, etc., on either end of the purunkita, indicate a point of and at the mouth of Duniau Creek. (104)

Message: The central lines, a, a, at both ends of the purunkita represent the salt­water creek, Duniau. On this creek is the totemic place, d, a rock about thirty feet long and six feet above the level of high tide. The transverse lines, b, b, etc., are freshwater creeks which flow into Duniau. The sloping cuts within rectangle d, symbolize cracks in the totemic rock of Mandubuka. The remainder of the sloping cuts, as at c, c, etc., represent bloodwood trees and other eucalypts growing on the banks of the freshwater streams. Marks f, f, etc., on either end of the purunkita, indicate a point of and at the mouth of Duniau Creek. (104)

Date Created: 1954

Notes on date created: Year of the National Geographic Expedition to Melville Island

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

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: NT

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Tiwi Austlang: N20 - Tiwi Glottolog: tiwi1244

Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with Muranapi, and the Mandubuka (blow-fly) totemic group.

Cultural region: TopEnd_tiwi

Term for 'message stick' (or related) in language: purunkita

Sources:

Charles P. Mountford (1958). The Tiwi: their Art Myth and Ceremony. London Phoenix Melbourne: Georgian House.

Source types: book article

Coordinates: 11°52'47.100000"S,131°02'50.499600"E  (-11.87975, 131.047361)

Notes on coordinates: Absolute coordinates for Muranapi Point

Media Files:

Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh, Piers Kelly