| Coordinates WGS84 | 29°28'S, 149°50'E -29.47, 149.83 |
FNB1897P345
Title: Sketch of a message stick F.N. Bucknell (1897), mentioned by M. Frank (1940)
Description: Sketch of two sides of the same message stick (A and B), in 'Message sticks and their meanings by Mr. Bucknell' (1897). Sketch of message stick (fig. 23) on p. 345 in Maria Frank's "Botenstäbe in Australien"
Message: In his letter says I got the enclosed Message Stick from a very old blackfellow, and he told me the meaning of each sentence in Camelaroy [Gamilaraay] to English, and I think it is fairly correct." [...] "the front being marked as shown in figure "A," and the back as shown in figure "B." The following is the meaning of the different marks as given by the Aboriginal, and translated into English from the Camelaroy by the writer. (1.) Yel(?) To the chief of the camp. (2.) Nummer niah Dooloo ivunder yan amberltei. I send this Dooloo to you. (3.) Mate mecc Dooloo dooneyivunder tie inder yanarba yel lodoo boolloona murray groye. I marked this Dooloo and send it to you. Come here at once the murrays (men) are nearly all dead. (4.) Boolar marl murray gundabar yarrawakie, cuningo booloonay tie ganawa. Three black men left. All the others are dead. Come at once and see. (5.) Nia inunder Dooloo to yanawa nialeet nooloomoot, indi mulbay emily. I send this Dooloo to you Come at once. Make no delay, that you may see the last of us here. (6.) Yarrawaker indi malrey anney pianbar Yarrawa tie murrie butty inder omely maany. Come to Yarrawa to meet us. Come soon you may meet us alive (?) Ix Barnarbar sends this Dooloo. This Dooloo is sent from where the Ibis lives and breeds." (p. 10)
Date Created: 1897
Notes on date created: terminus ante quem
Item type: image of a message stick (artefact missing)
Subtype: traditional
State/Territory: NSW
Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Gamilaraay Austlang: D23 - Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi Glottolog: gami1243
Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with the "Burrendoon Station, near Moree" [...] "Camelaroy Tribe" Message Stick is called by that tribe "Dooloo"
Term for 'message stick' (or related) in language: dhulu ("dooloo")
Semantic domains: sd_animal_ibis, sd_death, sd_person, sd_person_recipient, sd_person_sender, sd_place, sd_urgency
Sources:
Collector: F. N. Bucknell
Coordinates: 29°27'56.901600"S,149°50'2.000400"E (-29.465806, 149.833889)
Notes on coordinates: Location of Moree. Exact location of Burrendoon Station cannot be found.
Notes: compare guanlim PK: There is some commentary on this object in Fred Woodgate's Kamilaroi and assimilation
Media Files:
Data Entry: Piers Kelly