..CAPNO
Houston.J1.BW
..DEPOSITR Jane
Goodale PHOTOGRAPHER: J T Houston
..CAPTION LIST covers N1873, N3433-N3435, N3438
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N1873.08
..DATE c1910
..PLACE
Bathurst/Melville Island, NT
..DSCRPTN group
of natives making 'corroboree', ie singing and
blowing
the didjeridu. The first, third and fourth natives are
beating
time with two sticks and singing in a nasal voice. The
decorations are only a holiday decoration, as there was no fight.
Notice
the bags around the neck (dilly bags). When fighting the
bag is
gripped between the teeth - (make-em brave fellow) the
natives
explained to me
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.05
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN young
Aborigine of Larrateyah. I watched this chap
"making up" for the fight, but when the fight came on he kept
behind
the huts. Human nature does not vary whether white or
black
(9)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.06
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT native
lubra Mordadork
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.07
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Aboriginal child from Katherine River, 200 miles inland
fron
Darwin (10)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.08
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN group
of natives watching for opponents to appear.
Later
on the fight became so bad the police had to be called (12)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.09
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT big foot
Charlie, native name 'Nurra', very fine type.
About
6ft 3"
..DSCRPTN
Employed by local dentist and entrusted to do various
work
connected with making plates etc. Very
unusual to be able
to
trust native to do anything. Father of
Peter, boy shown in No
4 and
No 6. Weedy specimen probably due to disease. Notice scars
on body
and arms (19)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.10
..PLACE Katherine
River, NT
..DSCRPTN Met
this native when out in the open country and ask
him to
"let me catchem picture". Here again can be seen the dilly
bag
around neck, also on the arms are armlets made of woven
strips
of lawyer vine. When I had photographed him he wanted to
know
what I saw in camera. I handed him the camera to show him
and
photographed him again with pocket camera, see No 87. The
deep
scars on body are caused by cutting the flesh deeply and
rubbing
ashes in. Characteristic of Australian Aborigines. Most
natives
have markings (20)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.11
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN shows
the spear fight actually in progress. Native
behind
the ever present dog is standing ready to dodge, with
knees
bent. No shield is used but depend on speed of movement to
miss
spear. Native in centre just throwing spear. Past him is
another
native dodging. Cannot understand native walking away.
Never
saw that before as plenty of spears were flying. Was
afraid
of stopping one myself while photographing (26)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.12
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN spear
fight I saw. Shows one side sitting ready for
action
with spears alongside of them or already on spear throwers
(27)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.13
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN This
was one of my unlucky ones. Shows the winning
natives
executing a dance of triumph. Would have been rather good
but for
light leak on side. See the dog again. At this instant
every
native has thrown his arms up and yelled in unison (28)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.21
..PLACE Darwin,
NT
..DSCRPTN natives
makaing preliminary charge to impress opposing
side
(38)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.23
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Aboriginal house called 'wurlie', 'gunyah' etc, each
tribe
having a different name. The framework usually consists of
a number of pliant branches bent over thus;
each end buried in
the
ground. The sheets of bark are stripped off a species of ti-
tree
(called paper bark) and are laid on the framework. In this
house
the centre is supported, but that is unusual. The lubra on
the
left hand is young, I should estimate under 20, while the
other
would hardly be over 30. Of course this is guess work. One
lubra
(right hand) was dress as per photo when I came and wishing
to get
the other the same, I called a male and asked him to ask
the
girl to make herself like her companion. He did so, but gave
his
instructions with his back to the lubra, who did it without
hesitation (can adavance no reason for it) (42)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.24
..PLACE Darwin,
NT
..DSCRPTN natives
with spears. The short spears held by native on
left
are used for game or throwing at long distance fights, while
the
barbed spears are used only for fighting at closer quarters.
The
decorations on body are marks of white pipeclay (43)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.25
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN native
making fire by means of twirling stick.A hollow
is made
in the lower stick and a point on the upper, and finely
shredded grass place around the junction of the two sticks. The
grass
is sometimes greased by rubbinmg it behind the ears or
around
the nostrils. The heat due to the stick rotating causes
the
grass to smoulder and is them blown to a flame.
Natives
carry
fire whenever they can in the shape of a fire stick. The
native
in photo is whirling stick between palms (44)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.26
..PLACE near
Port Darwin,NT
..DSCRPTN This is
a typical example of how you will see a native
shifting camp (except for the trousers, a loin cloth is usually
worn).
He is carrying 3 spears, all fish spears, one three
pointed
and two single pointed. The single pointed ones are used
for
spearing dugong (the mermaid), while the three pointed spear
is used
for smaller fish. In his other hand he is carrying a
firestick.
They always carry a stick in their canoes and often on
a short
journey as it is apparently easier than lighting a fire
by
means of the twirling stick. Also it is necessary as all
natives
smoke now. The 'dilly bag' or carrying bag can be seen
swinging from the neck (45)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.27
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN rock
python held by Aborigine in 'street' costume. This
native was one of three who appeared to
control the affairs of
the
Darwin (Larrkeyah) tribe (46)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.28
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT native,
name 'Tummeri', husband of Mordadork the lubra
who
worked for us
..DSCRPTN He was
lazy and was about equal in intelligence and
industry to the average Aborigine. He is decorated here to take
part in
a spear fight but instead of using cloth the natives
usually
wear a band of plaited material usually made from
shredded bark and painted white with pipeclay. (see photo 19) (1)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.29
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT native
'Tummeri'
..DSCRPTN
standing with barbed spear and spear thrower. The cloth
is not
usual, but is usually a fringe formed of twisted bark (2)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.30
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN small
dugout canoe. Here an outrigger is used, copied
probably from the islands north. This is the only canoe I have
seen
with outrigger. Most canoes are longer, see other photos re
canoes (40)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.31
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN same as
36. Natives poling, had just completed a trip
across
about 30 miles of open water. When canoe gets swamped all
hamds
jump overboard and give the canoe sharp push on end. This
causes
some of the water (due to inertia) to jump over the end.
This is
continued until sufficient water is out to allow one to
get in
and bale. Canoes are usually packed absolutely full of
bucks,
lubras, piccanninies and dogs (37)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.32
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
"yours very sincerely J T Houston"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.33
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN see
photos No 1 and 84. In order to test a native's
ability
to draw I ask him to draw me a boat. He drew a lugger, as
in photo. To see whether he only knew
one type of boat I ask him
to draw
a broken down racing boat he had been out in. He did so
(see
84) (83)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER N3433.34
..PLACE Darwin,
NT
..DSCRPTN Dugout
canoe, this one is about 12 ft long. Photo gives
a good
idea of shape of canoe (72)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.35
..PLACE
Katherine River, NT
..DSCRPTN group
of lubras (76)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.36
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN see
photos No 1 and 83. Cont'd. from 83. Even to
drawing
the bowsprit in line with deck and a particularly large
rudder,
which unluckily I did not include on photo. This native
had
never been to any school being a 'wild' nigger that had
drifted
into civilization. See dugout canoe in background (84)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3433.37
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT Nellie
..DSCRPTN This
lubra belongs to tribe who amputate the first
joint
of index finger on right hand (tribal mark). Close
examination of photo will show it (82)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.03
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN group
of natives on railway line, as you meet them in
the
bush. Note the physique of the men, Aborigines I mean (81)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.04
..PLACE Port
Darwin, NT
..DSCRPTN
Aborigine and child (80)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER N3434.05
..PLACE
Katherine River, NT
..DSCRPTN group
of lubras and piccanninies. Notice Pandanus tree
or
Screwpalm in background (79)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.06
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN track
made by turtle going out to sea after laying it
eggs
(78)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.07
..PLACE
Katherine River, NT
..DSCRPTN native
camp on Katherine River (77)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.08
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN native
waiting to spear fish, see 3 pointed fishspear.
Spear
fish at night by phosphorescence due to fish moving (70)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.09
..PLACE Port
Darwin, NT
..DSCRPTN
Aboriginal child, same as No 80 (68)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.10
..PLACE
Adelaide River, NT
..DSCRPTN lubra
and piccanninie (mother and child). Mother was
bathing
when I came down and did not exhibit any signs of
confusion when she saw me, but leisurely slipped on her single
piece
garment to be photographed. Full blooded Aboriginal (69)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.11
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN water
Hyancynths, a royal blue colour (74)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.12
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN Broken
anthill. This is a low anthill average about 30
ins
high. Has been broken down and ants have built another one
from
the old. This hill is the bugbear of
motorists. Cannot be
seen in
long grass and will bend or break an axle if hit fairly.
So
thick in some parts that they render the place impassable to
motors,
as there are few tracks. (200 miles inland) (73)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.13
..PLACE Darwin,
NT
..DSCRPTN Palm
(cocoanut) (71)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.14
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
meridional anthills, see photo 85. This is looking at
right
angles to axis of hill. Some hills 20 ft long but rarely
over 10
ft high (86)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.15
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN Broken
anthill. This is a low anthill average about 30
ins
high. Has been broken down and ants have built another one
from
the old. This hill is the bugbear of
motorists. Cannot be
seen in
long grass and will bend or break an axle if hit fairly.
So
thick in some parts that they render the place impassable to
motors,
as there are few tracks. (200 miles inland) (73)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER N3434.16
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
meridional or magnetic anthill.
Looking along axis of
hill
which always lies in magnetic meridian. Don't know of any
explanation but well known fact that every hill always lies true
north
and south. The top of hill is very thin, about as thick as
lead
pencil (85)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3434.17
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN anthill
which is supposed to be 25 ft high. Did not
measure
it but men form a scale which shows that it is not far
short.
Most anthills are on swampy flats. No anthill of any size
on
higher country except a hill shaped like this,[diag] about 4
ft high
like a church spire, round in section (75)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.09
..PLACE
Katherine River, NT
..DSCRPTN native
on Katherine River. Note the long thin legs of
all
Aborigines in photos (47)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.10
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN Cycad.
I believe that this tree or palm grows in very
few
parts of the world, being fossil in most countries, but you
will
know more than me about that. So if you write could you tell
me
about the cycads (66)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.11
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Madrepore or branching coral. Taken with only points
projecting above water. Coral group about 2 ft in diameter. At
Darwin
it was only possible to see the reef like in photo 65
about 4
times per year on dead low tides and then only for about
an
hour. Rise and fall of tide about 25 ft so that seldom was the
reef
uncovered (13)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.12
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Frangipani. I think you saw this in flower in Thursday
Island,
I remember you mentioning it when coming down (14)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.13
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN a white
tree orchid growing on the bark of the paper
bark
tree (16)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.14
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN head of
frillneck lizard. When alarmed the frill is
thrown
out even more than in photo, but normally the frill lies
aback
like a cape. Length of lizard approx 18 ins to 2 ft (18)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.15
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN another
type of coral. In this type the coral grows at
right
angles from a central trunk. Have photo
of specimen about
3 ft 6
across here [diag.]. In this photo one side was restricted
by
rock, but in photo 13 the coral grows like this [diag.] (11)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.16
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN nest of
finch, probably (as far as I can remember) the
painted
finch. Nest beautifully woven from fibres of bark. Leach
(227)
page (49)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.17
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Australian Emu, see Leach page 12 (50)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.18
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN [tree
hanging with fruit] (52)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.19
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN jungle
fowl's mound. Eggs are laid in decaying
vegetable matter and heat of decaying material incubates eggs,
see
Leach's bird book under 'mound builders', page 15-16.
Corresponds to Leache's description of scrub fowl, page 201 (53)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER N3435.20
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN a green
tree frog. I dont know whether this frog is in
USA but
he belongs to the northern parts of Australia. On the
point
of each toe is a sucker which allows the frog to even climb
up a
perperdicular pane of glass. They are able to jump down from
heights
up to 15 ft without apparently hurting themselves (54)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.21
..PLACE near
Darwin, NT
..DSCRPTN this is
another type of anthill which is always more or
less
like a mound. A superficial examination of the ants (or
termites) of each type of hill leads one to believe that each
termite
is different. I have not looked into it, but believe that
such is
the case from personal examination (56)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.22
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN bower
birds playground. This bower belongs to the satin
bower
bird (see Leache's bird book). Usually situated under low
scrubby
trees. Not a nest, only a playground. Notice the
collection of shells at ends, used in play. Also in bower were
bright
red berries, which had attracted the birds who carried
them to
the bower. See Leach page 187, also 185 (55)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.23
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN oyster
covered Iron stone Reef. The peculiarity in this
photo
is the mass of dead oystesrs, which living ones have built
on,
died, and others built on, until the projections on all the
rocks
are masses of oysters. The shells are as sharp as razors,
and
always cause a septic wound (58)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.24
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
Mangrove roots. In this type of mangrove the aerial
roots
shown in foreground and butress roots (supporting the tree)
make an
almost impassable barrier. Where roots leave trunk, about
4ft
high and in many parts roots much thicker but difficult to
photograph due to bad light and mosquitos. Taken at low tide (57)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.25
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN a
'flying fox', really a giant bat which causes great
trouble
among fruit growers (59)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.26
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN the
pandanus trunk, called the screw palm because the
leaves
always form a perfect screw. Unusual to see them like
this,
but a bush fire had burnt off the long leaves and had left
the
short ends, which shows the screw well. See photo 47, showing
pandanus growing on Katherine River. Very widely distributed
tropical palm (63)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.27
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN hill
built by hill building termites. As far as I could
find
out these termites do not eat wood, like the dreaded 'white
ant'
which will build mud channels for yards over galvanised iron
to
reach a piece to wood they like. The hill buiding termite
store
their food in these hills and apparently the whole colony
of ants
are above the ground. This is a fairly common type of
anthill
in the coastal areas for about 150 miles inland, and then
the
hills appear to get smaller (60)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.28
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN billabong
(or lagoon) covered with blue water lilies. I
believe
I told you, I nearly lost my life trying to find this
place,
but was well rewarded. I dont suppose I will ever see such
numbers
of water flowers together again. Flowers extend back for
about
two thirds of a mile and about half a mile wide carpet of
blue
(62)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.29
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN
echidna. I think this is well known to you. Found in
lady's
bedroom, not by me. When they get into small opening and
raise
quills nothing short of killing the creataure and taking it
out
piecemeal would dislodge it (61)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.30
..PLACE Pine
Creek, NT
..DSCRPTN group
of anthills (64)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.31
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN general
appearance of coral reef at very low tide. The
cone
shaped peices of coral are really ironstone boulders covered
with a
type of honeycomb coral in shades of green. The branching
coral
can be seen in the immediate foreground. It is a wonderful
experience to spend a few hours on a coral reef (65)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.32
..PLACE Pine
Creek, NT
..DSCRPTN Pine
Creek railway station, showing fortnightly train
leaving
station. Notice anthills in foreground (67)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.33
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN native
(Emu) who was particularly tall. I should say
not less than 6ft 7 or 8ins. In this
case the native was aged,
but
still carried himself well (3)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.34
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN native
dugout canoe same as photo 37. Cut out of solid
trunk
of tree. If possibe natives use kapok wood. (tree on which
commercial kapok is grown) but every wood of sufficient size is
used.
Canoes are sailed, but have not heard of natives using
sails
before advent of white man. Original conoe on mainland was
made of
bark bent up and stitched together, and leaks stopped
with
mud. Later years the dugout is exclusively used because much
stronger
(36)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.35
..PLACE Darwin,
NT
..SUBJECT three
Aboriginal boys. The boy on left is Peter, of
which
there is a 'close-up' and is the son of fine native called
Big
Foot Charlie of which there is also a photo
..DSCRPTN (4)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3435.36
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT Peter,
son of Big Foot Charlie
..DSCRPTN (6)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3438.04
..PLACE NT
..DSCRPTN Here
can be seen the woven carrying bag suspended from
shoulder. Lubras carry them suspended from forehead. See spears
lying
in grass at back. When he saw trees in camera he handed
that
back saying "no good that one, trees jump up (move about)".
The
"jumping up" was due to him moving camera (87)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
..NEWDOC
..NUMBER
N3438.06
..PLACE NT
..SUBJECT native
girl named "Mordadork"
..DSCRPTN This
girl worked for us 2 and a half years and was
fairly
intelligent. Did household duties alloted to her well.
Belonged to tribe about 200 miles east of Darwin. This tribe
marked
all the lubras (women) when young by bending their shin
bone,
locally called "boomerang" shins. This girl's shins were
curved
about like this [diag] She seemed rather sensitive about
it and
always lengthened her skirts to cover them. When this
photo
was taken the hair was just growing after having been cut
short
to provide a belt of hair for her brother, which was used
in some
ceremony. I think Spencer Gillen speaks of this practice
of
cutting lubra's hair for the men for certain ceremonies
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++