ILI1948P102F4

Title: A sketch of a message stick from Ion L. Idriess' "Over the range" (1948)

Description: Sketches of two sides of one message stick fig (4) on p. 102 of "Over the range" by Ion L. Idriess

Message: Author's drawing of a message stick from the Isdell River tribe describing the killing of a Worachi. (This stick was passed around among the tribes as we would pass a newspaper.) Above [fig. 1]: 1. Whisky wanted to spare Worachi but 2. Marmadu (Donkey) said he was a very strong warrior and swore he would kill him and eat his kidney fat. 2. Moby, Womerun, and Ardgat warned the hunted man that the killers were close upon him and advised him to hide in the Parrywarri Creek. 4. Parrywarri Creek where Worachi hid in vain. 5. Twin hills of Grace's Knob, by 6. Isdell River where Worachi was killed. Below (Reverse side) [fig. 2]: 1. Jack wanted to kill Worachi in the Creek, but Argdat (George) stopped him. 2. Marmadu (Donkey). 3. Dungart. 4. Oomagun. 5. Oomball killed him but now have big trouble with Worachi's tribesmen. 6. Turkey Creek warriors who have sent word threatening vengeance. 7. They say they will fight Oomagun's men near the dead white-man Coniton's station. (p. 102)

Date Created: 1948

Notes on date created: terminus ante quem

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

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: WA

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Ngarinyin Austlang: K18 - Ngarinyin Glottolog: ngar1284

Linguistic area 2: Chirila: Kija Austlang: K20 - Gija / Kija Glottolog: kitj1240

Notes on linguistic areas: Isdell River [Ngarinyin:ngar1284] Turkey Creek [Kija: kitj1240]

Cultural region: WA_kimberley

Semantic domains: sd_activity_kill, sd_event, sd_news, sd_person_dead, sd_place_creek, sd_place_hills, sd_place_river, sd_place_station, sd_warning

Sources:

Idriess, Ion L. 1948. Over the range: Sunshine and shadow in the Kimberleys. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.

Coordinates: 16°05'57.688800"S,125°42'22.107600"E  (-16.099358, 125.706141)

Notes on coordinates: Chirila centroid coordinates for Ngarinyin

Notes: The image 20210213-Invaluable-H3247-L242175192.jpg is taken from the notice for the auction of Ion Idriess's estate Lot 41, scheduled for 13 February 2013, Sydney Rare Book auctions

Media Files:

Data Entry: Olena Tykhostup, Piers Kelly