QM_QE898

Title: Message stick for a boy named Mickie, Cooktown, in the Queensland Museum Kurilpa

Item type: message stick in a collection

Notes on linguistic areas: Cooktown

Institution/Holder file: Queensland Museum Kurilpa object identifier: QE898

Notes: QM REGISTER

Date: May 10, 1916

Registration no: 16/897

Name or Description: Message sticks

No. of specimens: 2

Locality: Larger from T'ville 16/897. Smaller from Cooktown 16/898

From Whom Acquired: E. Banfield

References to Papers: Ack. no. 16/089

Destination:

Remarks:

OTHER NOTES:

From: Banfield, E. J. 1908. The confessions of a beachcomber: Scenes and incidents in the career of an unprofessional beachcomber in tropical Queensland. London & Leipzig: T. Fisher Unwin.

BRAMMO BAY, DUNK ISLAND, November 1906. 5

There came to our beach one afternoon some poor exiles from Princess Charlotte Bay—300 miles to the north. Exiled they felt themselves to be, and were longing to return to their own country, although their engagement for a six months’ cruise in quest of the passive bêche-de-mer had but just begun. One boy stepped along with an air of pride and importance. His companions were deferential to a certain extent, but they, too, exhibited an unusual demeanour. Some of the glory and honour that shone in Mattie’s face was reflected in theirs. With the assurance of an ambassador bearing high credentials he saluted me—

“Hello, Mister! Goodday.”

“Good day,” I responded. “You come from that cutter?”

Mattie—“Yes, mister. Mickie sit down here, now? Me got ‘em letter. Brother belonga gin, belonga Mickie; him gib it !”

“No; Mickie sit down alonga Palm Islands. Come back, bi’-mby.” [261]

Mattie (with a downcast air)—”My word! Bo’sun (the brother-in-law) gib it letter belonga Mickie.”

“Where letter?” I asked.

Mattie—"Me got ‘em,” and drawing out a very soiled little parcel, he proudly exposed a piece of greyish wood, about the size and shape of a lead pencil, on which had been cut two continuous intersecting grooves. “Me giv’ ‘em Mickie; Bo’sun alonga Cooktown. He want to come up this way now.”

The letter was a mere token of material expression of the fact that the sender was in the land of the living, and of his faith in the bearer, who was charged with all the personal messages and news. It was a sad rebuff to Mattie, elated with responsibility and eager to unburden himself of the latest domestic intelligence, to find that Mickie was not on the spot to receive it all. And, after fondling the wooden document for a while, he wrapped it up and carefully bestowed it within the bosom of his shirt. The disappointment was general. The gleam faded from the faces of the boys. For several days, first one and then another was entrusted with the honourable custody of the missive. Whoever possessed it for the time being was the most favoured individual. His worthiness for the office he acknowledged with an amusing air of self-consciousness and pride. The transmission of a letter is not an ordinary occurrence, and though there is an entire absence of form and ceremony in its delivery, the rarity of the event lends to it novelty and importance. [...] 262 From QM correspondence:

"Brammo Bay, Dunk Island.

[216] April 11/16.

Dear Doctor,

four blacks have, individually, promised to make message sticks, but so far—you know the foibles of the race—none is forthcoming. I note that you agree with views as to the illiteracy of the interesting folk, and that your investigation aims at producing evidence for and against. No doubt you have seen what Mrs. Aenas Gunn tells in her book "The Litte Black Princess" (p.57, for illustration) and may think that she makes out a good case: but when one listens to any black expounding such things there is little room for doubt that he is exercising his inventivencess to suit his audience, for it the sticks be taken from his and presented the next day it will be found to have quite a different version.

I am posting a couple of sticks which I have had for many years—one originating at Townsville and the smaller, with the spiral grooves, at Cooktown. This latter was brought to this Island for a boy named Micky, who was thought to be living here, as explained in "The Confessions".

With the sticks you will find the thigh bone of a cassowary, said by the blacks to have been killed by the ferocious and smellful beast which I have referred to in the "Homily" entitled "IT". I got this bone myself on the site of the alleged tragedy, which is now in a banan clearing at the foot of Clump Point mountain. When the scrub was felled, quite recently, and burnt off the bones were calcined, save this, which I thought might interest you. The quests...

E. Banfield." 05.02.2026 PK: Inwards correspondence 1916_005.jpg: Progressive=216 Previous=171 Subsequent=515 Date of registration=January 19 Of Letter=April 11 From Whom= E. J. Banfield Dunk Is. Subject of Letter=Message sticks – giving information re.

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Data Entry: Piers Kelly