MF1940F18P345
Title: Sketch of a message stick from M. Frank's "Botenstäbe in Australien" (1940)
Description: Sketch of message stick wrapped in a piece of fur (fig. 18) on p. 345 in Maria Frank's "Botenstäbe in Australien": "Ein anderer Stock (13b, S. 10-11) (s.Fig. 18), dessen Stammeszugehörigkeit nicht angegeben wird, dient als Warnzeichen. Er besitzt eine Einkerbung, in der kleine Stücke von Blattern befestigt waren. Er wurde an einen Baum gebunden, der den Freunden, die man verständigen wollte, bekannt war. Der Stamm hatte das Lager verlassen, weil man einen feindlichen Überfall befürchtete. Mittels der Blattstückchen teilte man den später ankommenden Freunden mit, daB man vergiftete Knochensplitter in die Erde gesteckt habe, um die herannahenden Feinde zu töten." Translation JB: Another stick (13b, pp. 10-11) (see Fig. 18), whose tribal affiliation is not given, serves as a warning sign. There is a notch where small pieces of leaves were attached. It was tied to a tree known to the friends with whom one wanted to communicate. The tribe had left the camp because they feared a hostile attack. By means of the leaf pieces, the later arriving friends were told that poisoned bone fragments had been put into the ground to kill the approaching enemies.
Message: Stick [...] serves as a warning sign. There is a notch where small pieces of leaves were attached. It was tied to a tree known to the friends with whom one wanted to communicate. The tribe had left the camp because they feared a hostile attack. By means of the leaf pieces, the later arriving friends were told that poisoned bone fragments had been put into the ground to kill the approaching enemies.
Date Created: 1940
Notes on date created: terminus ante quem
Item type: image of a message stick (artefact missing)
Subtype: traditional
Sources:
Notes: JB: The source of Frank's description is not verified.
Media Files:
Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh