QM_QE34

Title: Sketch of a message stick by Hamlyn-Harris (1918)

Description: Sketch of a flat message stick on p.26, Fig.15, of "On messages and "Message Sticks" employed among the Queensland Aborigines" by R. Hamlyn-Harris: "A stick at one time the property of the "King of the Muholoon." The close sinuous lines completely encircle the confined area. The cross-markings shown on the obverse side are produced where these taper off. Message unknown."

Creator of Object: Sender: "the King of the Muholoon" (p. 26)

Date Created: 1918

Notes on date created: terminus ante quem

Item type: message stick in a collection

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Yukulta Austlang: G34 - Yukulta / Ganggalidda Glottolog: gang1267

Notes on linguistic areas: The origin of the message stick is Turn-off Lagoon. The message stick is associated with Turn-off Lagoon. However, it's not certain who the "Muhaloon" are. If this can be determined it might lead to a second linguistic area.

Dimension 1: 182mm Dimension 2: 32mm

Materials: white gum

Sources:

Hamlyn Harris, R. 1918. “On messages and ‘message sticks’ employed among the Queensland Aborigines.”

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 6:13-36.

Institution/Holder file: Queensland Museum Kurilpa object identifier: QE34

Coordinates: 17°52'59.998800"S,138°34'0.001200"E  (-17.883333, 138.566667)

Notes on coordinates: Absolute coordinates for Turn-off Lagoon

URL source 1: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47577#page/51/mode/1up

Notes: QM REGISTER

Date: Aug. 23, 1911

Registration no: 11/34

Name or Description: Message stick

Locality: Turn-off Lagoon via Burketown Police Stn

From Whom Acquired: E. P. Smith (Protector)

References to Papers:See letter 11/4/88

Destination:

Remarks: From King of the "Muholoon"

OTHER NOTES:

03.03.2026 PK: QM correspondence:

"Turn off Lagoon,

Police Station.

2nd August 1911

To

The Director

Queensland Museum

Brisbane.

Dear Sir,

I am sending to you 2 two bundles of Aboriginals things. Vize 18 stone knives, 2 feather mosquito or fly beater, 4 boomerangs 1 cooleman, 5 head bands, 2 arm rings, 4 throat bands, 2 opposoms and 1 head tasil, 1 but made out of Bagging , 2 feather armlets2 musician sticks, 4 letter sticks, 2 stone tomahawk, 2 grass neck laces, 1 red bean neck lace, 2 hair they make things out of it carry there cooliman. 4 pencile sketches drawn by an Abriginal, one Cooliman. It is made out of a cork wood tree. 29 stone and wooden spears, 5 woomeras to be used in throughing spear, one bundle of fire sticks. Hope these articles will reach you safely. Should you require any further collections kindly let me know. Myself and the matron will try and procure some for you.

I have the honour to be

Sir,

Yours obedient servant,

E. P. Smith,

17.06.25 PK: Possibly the same as the object Anne Best has sketched (Best 2003, 168) with the identifier QM 34 05.02.2026 PK: Previously RHH1918P26F15

Media Files:

Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh