RHM1897P292F8

Title: Sketch of a message stick from New South Wales reproduced by R.H.Mathews (1897)

Description: Sketch of message stick on p. 293 of "Message-sticks used by the Aborigines of Australia" by Robert Hamilton Mathews

Message: The notches on its edges have no meaning, but are merely ornamental; (a) represents Taballah, and the figure immediately alongside represents his wife. The two figures (b) (b) on the other end of the stick represent two black fellows of the Cudnappa tribe. On the other side of the stick, figure 9, the figure (c) represents Enutbeakah, and the other figures (d) on the same side represent the blacks of the Currawillinghi tribe. On looking at the stick, assisted by the verbal message, Enutbeakah understood that Taballah was bringing his gin and two other blacks with him, and by the figures on the other side of the stick Enutbeakah saw that he was requested to bring the blacks of his tribe, the Currawillinghi, with him. (p. 296)

Creator of Object: Sender: "a native named Taballah, Murri Iguana, one of the head-men of the Cudnappa River tribe" (p. 295) Recipient: "a black fellow named Kunbitalah, Murri Iguana, one of the Culgoa River tribe" (p.295-296)

Date Created: 1897

Notes on date created: terminus ante quem

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

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: QLD/NSW

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Muruwari Austlang: D32 - MURUWARI / MURRAWARRI Glottolog: muru1266

Linguistic area 2: Chirila: Yuwaalaraay Austlang: D27 - Yuwaalaraay Glottolog: yuwa1242

Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with the “Coomburrah on the Mungalalah river, Queensland, sent to Angledool, on the Narran river, New South Wales (p. 295-296) Coomburrah is in the Muruwari region, Angledool is in the Yuwaalaraay region.

Semantic domains: sd_person_sender, sd_person_woman_wife, sd_request

Sources:

American Anthropologist 10 (9):288-298.

Mathews, Robert Hamilton. 1897. “Message-sticks used by the Aborigines of Australia “

Collector: I obtained the message-sticks and all the details respecting them from Mr James E. Miller, a police trooper stationed at Goodooga township. He has been traveling through that district in the discharge of his official duties for some years past and is well acquainted with the numerous aboriginal population, who still preserve their ancient customs. (p. 292)

Coordinates: 28°56'52.332000"S,146°37'9.804000"E  (-28.94787, 146.61939)

Notes on coordinates: Chirila centroid coordinates for Muruwari

URL institution: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52785381

Media Files:

Data Entry: Olena Tykhostup, Piers Kelly