amsd_00037

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

Description: Sketch of message stick on p.28, Fig.19, of "On messages and "Message Sticks" employed among the Queensland Aborigines" by R. Hamlyn-Harris: "This stick, though in the main round, has practically four sides and is raddled with a dark-red ochre. The two rows of notches number 24 and 25 respectively, and a groove (track) runs along one of these rows; for the rest zigzag lines and crosses are typical. Message unknown"

Date Created: 1918

Notes on date created: terminus ante quem

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

State/Territory: QLD

Notes on linguistic areas: The message stick is associated with Herbert River, Queensland

Dimension 1: 89mm Dimension 2: 9mm

Materials: pine wood

Techniques: raddled with a dark-red ochre

Sources:

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

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 6:13-36.

Collector: Donor: J. Gaggin

Coordinates: 18°32'11.400000"S,146°17'20.799600"E  (-18.5365, 146.289111)

Notes on coordinates: Random coordinates along the Herbert River, Queensland, per Google maps

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

Notes: 03.02.2026 PK: QM correspondence files: "4647 Ripple Creek Sugar Estate Herbert River N:Q: 14.3.95 De Vis Esq Curator Brisbane Museum Sir, When in Brisbane some few months ago, I promised to send you a blacks letter stick, I now beg leave to forward you two per favor of Mr D'arban, I also forward you a thing rare among the blacks at least in this locality called by them a "tikovana" it is occassionally waorn round the neck by the men when fighting, or on an expedition all particulars I have been able to glean about it I have made a note of, which you will find enclosed I am inclined to think these "tikovana's" have much to do with their bora customs, the women hide their faces when they see them, and dont look at them willingly, I remain, Sir, yours sincerely, John Gaggin."

Media Files:

Data Entry: Julia Bespamyatnykh, Nitzan Rotman