| Coordinates WGS84 | 28°26'S, 153°18'E -28.44, 153.30 |
PRM1989_46_1
Title: A message stick from Queensland held in the Pitt Rivers Museum, and reproduced by A.W. Howitt (1889, 1904)
Description: Message stick holder: Pitt Rivers Museum Sketch of a message stick (fig. 14) in 'Notes on Australian message sticks and messengers' (Howitt 1889) and fig.3 and 4 in 'The native tribes of southeast Australia' (p. 708)
Message: Fig. 14. Message stick of the Chepara tribe, Queensland, calling upon that part of the tribe which received it to attend for corroboree, or for initiation ceremonies. One-fourth scale. (p.332)
Date Created: 1889
Notes on date created: terminus ante quem
Item type: message stick in a collection
Subtype: traditional
State/Territory: QLD
Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Yugambeh Austlang: E17 - Yugambeh
Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with the “Chepara tribe, Queensland" (p. 332) Chepara is classed as Yugambeh by Austlang. According to the Queensland state library, Chepara (also Tjipera) is the name of a south Brisbane clan group.
Semantic domains: sd_ceremony_law
Dimension 1: 305mm Dimension 2: 65mm
Materials: wood plant
Techniques: carved, incised
Source types: book article, museum collection
Date collected: June 1883
Institution/Holder file: Pitt Rivers Museum object identifier: 1989.46.1
Collector: Collector: James Gibson, Collected: June 1883 Other Owners: James Gibson to Alfred William Howitt to Edward Burnett Tylor PRM Source: Alfred William Howitt / Edward Burnett Tylor? Acquired: Found unentered 1989, Donated ?1883 or 1888
Coordinates: 28°26'14.949600"S,153°18'6.649200"E (-28.437486, 153.301847)
Media copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum
Notes on coordinates: Chirila centroid coordinates for Yugambeh
URL institution: http://objects.prm.ox.ac.uk/pages/PRMUID5154.html
URL source 1: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-26171094
Notes: OT: "Place created" is indicated under the image in the text and it's not entirely clear whether it refers to fig. 4 "Display history: Possibly displayed at the PRM from as early as 1888 with other examples from the Howitt collection of message-sticks (1989.46) (see photograph A23.F11.1, taken in 1995). [JC 11 1 2006] Loaned to the Crafts Council for their exhibition Codes and Messages: Lettering Today, held at the Crafts Council Gallery, Islington, London, from 30 November 1995 to 4 February 1996. [JC] Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Display label for this and related specimens states: 'Presented by A.W. Howitt Esq. 1888' but on the specimen is written 'Presented by A.W. Howitt Esq. 1883'. Collector's No. 3. Research notes: This is possibly the object mentioned in a letter from Howitt [Howitt 10] of the Tylor papers PRM ms collections Box 12 of June 25 1883: 'Dear Dr Tylor Your letter of the 13th May reminds me that I have not yet sent the turndun which I promised in my last letter. The reason is that I have been waiting until I could get them carefully drawn in order that I may have their versimilitudes for reference. I shall now send the following within the next two days in one or parcels [sic] as I find they may require for travel purposes (1) Murring Mudthi (bullroarer) used at Mileatom [?] and found [illegible] factory. [insert] The notch at the end represents the gap where the tooth has been knocked out [end insert] (2) Dieri -- Yuntha (Bullroarer) This was used at the Dieri ceremonies and also by me at those of the Coast Murring (3) Chepara Message stick I am not able to get an explanation of the marks. It seems probable that the existing blackfellows of the Chepara tribe (on the coast south of Brisbane) have forgotten the meaning. Mr Gibson to whom I am indebted for this stick tells me that his informant states that his father used to make these sticks but that he only knew of the meaning of the marks. (4) Dieri message token of Emu feathers. The messenger carries this and delivers the message by word of mouth (5) Narrinyeri message stick No explanation can be given of the marks. Narringyeri tribe is at the Murray River mouth (6) Woi-worung message stick. the marks are said not to have had any meaning beyond being connected in the messengers mind with his message. Woi-worung was the name of the tribe living above Melbourne. (7) Message stick used on the Diamantina River [insert] Queensland [end insert] So far as I can learn the marks are the enumeration of men who are invited to attend the details being given by the messenger. (8) Gournd[insert] i [end insert]tch mara message stick. I am told that this stick was sent with the messenger who conveyed the message by word of mouth (9) Dieri net. This net "yamma" was delivered to the Pinya (armed party) when any person was doomed to death by the Great Council of the Dieri tribe and the offender having been killed, this net was laid upon him as a sign to all concerned. Let me mention here that this Great Council was composed to the principal men of the Dieri tribe. The Heads of Murdus (Totems) Warriors, Orators, Wizards and held its meetings in secret. This great Council was supreme and different from the General Council which consisted of all the initiated men of the tribe. 10. Aaja-dura - Bullroarer. I cannot at present turn up the letter in which my correspondents gave me the name of this example. It was sent to me by the Headman of this tribe which inhabits Yorks Peninsula S.A. in return for a bullroarer which I sent to him. The old man showeed mine to my correspondent with much mystery after sending all the women away from the place These are all the contributions which I can send you this time but more will follow as soon as I can get them drawn -- I do this because I cannot yet tell whether in the work for which I am gathering materials I may or may not require illustrations of these things. This will not however in any way affect any use to which you may decide to put them. They are yours to do with as you like. If there are any other blackfellows implements which you want I shall be delighted to try and obtain them for you. [AP 05/02/2013]"
Media Files:
Data Entry: Piers Kelly