Title: Description of Woiwurrung message stick communication
Description: From Brough Smythe, R. 1878. The Aborigines of Victoria: With notes relating to the habits of natives of other parts of Australia and Tasmania. Vol. I. Melbourne & London: John Ferres. p133: "When a [unspecified Victorian] tribe is encamped, it is not permitted to any other tribe to approach the camp without warning. Bent on revenge, or with an intent to murder, or for the purpose of stealing a young woman, a warrior will sometimes invade a camp in the night and seek to effect his purpose, but such enterprizes are not of very common occurrence. Whether for friendly intercourse or for war, the tribe which seeks a meeting must give notice of its coming in due form. A messenger (We-ar-garr), whose duty it is to proceed to the camp and state the intentions of the visitors, or to invite them to come to the camp of his tribe, is formally appointed by the principal man of the tribe, assisted by the old men in council. The young men are not allowed, under any circumstances, to take part in such deliberations as may be preliminary to so important a matter as a visit to or the reception of another tribe. On very solemn occasions two ambassadors or messengers are appointed; ordinarily, only one. The messenger has to carry a token, by virtue of which he passes safely through the lands of the several tribes. The token is a piece of wood, eight or ten inches in length, sometimes round and sometimes flat, and seldom more than one inch in thickness. On it are inscribed hieroglyphics which can be read and interpreted, and which notify all persons of the nature of the mission. If the mission is a friendly one, the stick is streaked mostly with red-ochre (Werrup); but if unfriendly, or for the purpose of demanding satisfaction for injuries done, or for war, then it is mostly streaked with white-ochre (Ngarrimbul). The principal man, in putting this stick into the hands of the messenger, and having named the tribe for which the invitation is intended, says, “You hold this now” (Koong-ak kinee Mirrambinerr). “Look out and find plenty of blackfellows” (Yane-wat benjer oonee kolen). “You tell all blackfellows to come here” (Toombooni boole-anin kolen-yan-an niool or Tom-buk U-mar-ko Koolin Ner-lin-go)."
Date Created: 1878
Notes on date created: terminus ante quem
Item type: positive text reference
Linguistic area 1: Chirila: Woiwurrung Austlang: S36 - Woiwurrung Glottolog: woiw1237
Notes on linguistic areas: On 30 August 2018, Barry Blake wrote to Piers Kelly: "The language is the language of the Melbourne area, which I was calling Woiwurrung. I hesitate only because I think Boonwurrung was pretty much the same. These words come from William Thomas, who was stationed in the Dandenong area for some time, on the Woiwurrung-Boonwurrung border. Wirrap and ngarrimbal are confirmed, and I can translate most of the sentences. I'm pretty rusty. If it is important, I could look harder at the sentences. Barry weerup - 'red ochre' wirrap ngarrimbul - 'white ochre' probably ngarrimbal or ngarrimbil. Koong-ak kinee Mirrambinerr - 'You hold this now' Kunga-k kini marrambinerr. Take-imperative this you Yane-wat benjer oonee kolen – 'Look out and find plenty of blackfellows' Yani-wat pintjaru-ni kuliyn go-imperative two-? man Toombooni boole-anin kolen-yan-an niool / Thumbuni puli-anin kulinyaniyul tell-? ? man-? Tom-bukl u-mar-ko Koolin Ner-lin-go – 'You tell all blackfellows to come here' Thumbakl yumarko kuliyn nalinko. tell mob men come.back
URL source 1: https://archive.org/stream/aboriginesofvict01smyt#page/133/mode/1up
Data Entry: Piers Kelly