CPM1958P104F6J

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

Description: A message stick to invite the aborigines of Muranapi, southern Melville Island, to a pukamuni, is illustrated on Fig. 6J. The central white line is Muranapi Creek; the groups of sloping lines on either side are the eucalyptus trees on its banks, and the transverse panels, such as c, c, pandanus trees on the subsidiary watercourses. The semi-circles, e, e, on either end of the purunkita, represent the hills, g, g, the high ground, f, f, the sandy soil on the shores of Muranapi Creek, and the indentations, d, d, etc., on either edge of the purunkita, the tulini palms which grow on the edge of the fresh water. (104)

Message: A message stick to invite the aborigines of Muranapi, southern Melville Island, to a pukamuni (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 Creek, southern Melville Island. Cannot find Muranapi Creek on any maps. Coordinates are given for Muranapi Point.

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 (artefact is from Muranapi Creek)

Media Files:

Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh, Piers Kelly