SAM_AA_338_2_13

Title: Written record of a toa-like message stick at Walmaja lagoon, found in SAM archives, probably Tindale

Description: Transcription (note that strikethrough will not be visible, see attachments instead): "Message sticks etc An interesting example of sign absent illegible communication by signs was noticed met seen with near Walmaja lagoon. An old man, one of our party having died at Roper River, in the absence of a party group of Mara natives, who were on a honey bee harvest gathering trip into the ranges at the back of the River, the news of his death was left or received by in their illegible was from to two Allawa natives, who finding their people were away left the news of the old man's death with the following illegible to pass the news on passed the news on by constructing holding in the deserted camp, a low mound of sand four feet long and one wide at one end of which they placed an white upright stick with a a bundle of shredded white bark was tied to it (Fig ) Message Sticks see fig"

Message: «the old man has died»

Item type: positive text reference

Subtype: traditional

State/Territory: NT

Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Mara Austlang: N112 - Marra Glottolog: mara1385

Linguistic area 2: Chirila: Alawa Austlang: N92 - Alawa Glottolog: alaw1244

Cultural region: TopEnd_arnhem_east

object identifier: AA338/2/13

Coordinates: 14°44'15.698400"S,134°48'55.400400"E  (-14.737694, 134.815389)

Notes on coordinates: Best estimate for Walmaja Lagoon (also spelled Walmudga), based on the Northern Territory Government's 'Water Resources of the Roper Region' map.

Media Files:

Data Entry: Piers Kelly