LANGUAGE
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 77
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1901
Title: The Gundungurra Language
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 40
Pages: 140-48
Keywords: Language elicitation
Language - grammar
Abstract: This is among the first of Mathews' publications to deal
exclusively with an Aboriginal language. The Gundungurra tongue, which
Mathews had previously described in 'The Organisation, Language and
Initiation Ceremonies of the Aborigines of the South-East Coast of N. S.
Wales' (1900) (written jointly with M. M. Everitt), occurs in the Blue
Mountains and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales. Mathews claims
that although the vocabulary is different, the structure of Gundungurra is
the same as that of the neighbouring languages Dharrook and Dharawal. The
article is fairly brief, describing aspects of grammar only. The article is
organised under the following headings: 'Orthography'; 'Articles'; 'Nouns';
'Pronouns'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'; 'Indicative Mood'; 'Imperative Mood';
'Conditional Mood'; 'Prepositions'; and 'Adverbs'. Uncharacteristically for
Mathews, his earlier joint publication is not cited in this article.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Dharrook
2. Gundungurra
3. Thurrawal language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Hawkesbury River
2. Berrima
3. Goulburn
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Inadvertent reference to Thurrawal grammar (140).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Thurrawal Grammar: Part I (1901)
‘The Organisation, Language and Initiation Ceremonies of the Aborigines of
the South-East Coast of N. S. Wales’ (1900)
‘The Gundungurra Language’ (1901)
‘The Thurrawal Language’ (1901)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 137
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1901
Title: Some Aboriginal Tribes of Western Australia
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 35
Pages: 217-22
Keywords: Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Stories & motifs
Abstract: In this short article Mathews describes rules of kinship
and marriage among the tribes inhabiting the sources of the Fitzroy,
Margaret and Ord Rivers in Western Australia. These communities are composed
of two phratries (moieties), each of which is divided into four exogamous
sections (making eight sections in total). Mathews also describes the
kinship system found along the Lennard and Lower Fitzroy rivers, on Jurgurra
Creek, and along the coast to Broome, Condon and Roebourne. He reports that
these communities have two phratries, each of which is divided into two
exogamous sections (making four sections in total). The article briefly
recounts a legend concerning a lake into which Stuart Creek empties. The
lake is reported to be salty because it contains urine left by 'a
supernatural monster in serpent form' who made the rivers. The article also
contains a brief vocabulary of the Kisha dialect, spoken around Halls Creek
in Western Australia. Mathews credits a white correspondent, N. H. Stretch,
who collected data under his direction. In 'Notes on the Arranda tribe'
(1907) Mathews corrected views on totems and conception expressed in this
article.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kisha
2. Gunyan
3. Lungar
4. Nining
5. Jarrau
6. Walmaharri
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Fitzroy River
2. Margaret River
3. Ord River
4. Sturt Creek
5. Lennard
6. Lower Fitzroy River
7. Jurgurra Creek
8. Broome
9. Condon
10. Roebourne
11. Halls Creek
INFORMANTS
1. Mr. N. H. Stretch 'a long resident in Western Australia' who is also 'my
friend, [and] a very reliable observer' (219).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr. N. H. Stretch (219)
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
Not applicable.
CROSS REFERENCES
In 'Notes on the Arranda tribe' (1907) Mathews revised statements made in
'Marriage and Descent among the Australian Aborigines' (1900) and 'Some
Aboriginal Tribes of Western Australia' (1901) (this paper). Mathews said he
had:
'...reported a variety of totems appertaining to some tribes about Cresswell
downs, Stuart's Creek and adjacent country. The information was gathered
from me by Mr. Innes, Mr. Stretch, Mr. Wilson and other residents of those
regions. Upon continuing my inquiries through these men and gathering
further details, I find that the totems are not arbitrarily attached to the
particular pairs of quartettes of sections mentioned in my former papers.
All the totems therein enumerated are found among the different sections,
but instead of being inherited from either parent, are determined by the
locality where the mother first became aware that she was enceinte, in
accordance with the beliefs reported in my account of the Chau-an tribe in
this Journal, vol. XL, pp. 107-111. Metaphorically speaking, it is a certain
tree, rock, spring, sandridge, or other natural feature in the family
hunting grounds, which produces or bears the child, and confers its totem
upon it, instead of these functions being performed by a human mother.'
Paper referred to in quote above is 'Notes on Some Native Tribes of
Australia' (1906). It expresses his revised views on conception among
Western Australian and Northern Territory tribes.
Reference Type: Book
Record Number: 150
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1901
Title: Thurrawal Grammar: Part I
City: Parramatta
Publisher: Self-published
Number of Pages: 4
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This is among the first of Mathews' publications to deal
exclusively with an Aboriginal language. The five-page pamphlet on the
grammar of the Thurrawal language was printed at the Federal Printing Office
in Parramatta, presumably at the author's expense. Mathews states in the
opening paragraph that the Thurrawal (also spelled Dharawal) language is
'spoken by a number of aboriginal tribes on the south-east coast of New
South Wales, between the Hawkesbury River and the Victorian boundary.'
Inevitably, in such a short publication, the grammatical description is
truncated. It is arranged under the following headings: 'Nouns'; 'Pronouns';
'Verbs' (including notes on Indicative, Imperative and Conditional moods);
'Adjectives'; 'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; 'Conjunctions'; 'Interjections';
and 'Directions for Obtaining Information'. Under this last heading Mathews
gives advice on how the linguistic researcher can ascertain the dual and
plural forms of nouns and pronouns. It is likely that Mathews produced this
publication to send to correspondents who might assist him by documenting
Aboriginal language in their district. He does not state how he obtained
information on Thurrawal, but there is abundant evidence in the R. H.
Mathews Papers (National Library of Australia) that he worked personally
with speakers of the language at La Perouse and other locations. Although
Mathews published an expanded description of Thurrawal in 'The Thurrawal
Language' (1901), he never released a sequel to Thurrawal Grammar: Part I.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Thurrawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Hawkesbury River
2. Victorian border
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
Not applicable.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
‘The Thurrawal Language’ (1901)
‘The Thoorga and Other Australian Languages’ (1902)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 151
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1901
Title: The Thurrawal Language
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 35
Pages: 127-60
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This is among the first of Mathews' publications to deal
exclusively with Aboriginal language. It is primarily concerned with
Thurrawal (also spelled Dharawal), the language spoken 'over the south-east
coast of New South Wales from Port Hacking to Jervis Bay' and extending
inland 'for a considerable distance'. There is also more limited
documentation of two neighbouring languages: Gundungurra and Dharruk.
Mathews states that his purpose in this article is to further Australian
ethnology by describing the general structure of Thurrawal. He believes this
information will be valuable to philologists, 'enabling them to compare our
aboriginal languages with each other, and also with those of the people of
Polynesia and the East Indian Archipelago, whence the primitive inhabitants
of this Continent are supposed by several writers to have come-an opinion
which has also been promulgated by myself.' Mathews acknowledges previous
writers who have referred to the Thurrawal language. These include William
Ridley, David Collins and John Hunter. He then explains the system of
orthography used in the article, stating that it has been adopted from a
circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society in London. The grammatical
description, which forms the bulk of the article, is organised under the
following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including
notes on 'Voice' and 'Tense'); 'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; 'Conjunctions';
'Interjections and Exclamations'; and 'Numerals'. An appendix contains the
descriptions of Gundungurra and Dharruk (previously spelled by Mathews as
Darrook and Dharrook; now spelled Dharug). The section on Gundungurra
describes grammatical construction under the following headings: 'Nouns';
'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'; 'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; 'Conjunctions
and Interjections'; and 'Numerals'. The section on Dharrook describes
grammatical construction under the following headings: 'Nouns';
'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'; 'Adverbs'; and 'Numerals'. This is
followed by a three-and-a-half page 'Vocabulary of Dharruk Words'. The words
are arranged under the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human Body';
'Inanimate Natural Objects'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles';
'Insects'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Thurrawal
2. Wodi-Wodi language
3. Gundungurra
4. Dharruk
5. Ngunawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Port Hacking
2. Jervis Bay
3. Port Jackson
4. Botany bay
5. Georges River
6. Campbelltown
7. Appin
8. Goulburn
9. Hawkesbury River
10. Windsor
11. Penrith
12. Campbelltown
INFORMANTS
1. 'old natives' (155)
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. States that he has studied the Thurrawal language 'for some years past'
(127).
2. States that he is working on another article on the Thurrawal language
which 'is now in preparation, and will be completed as soon as the pressure
of other duties permit' (128).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Thurrawal Grammar: Part I (1901)
‘The Organisation, Language and Initiation Ceremonies of the Aborigines of
the South-East Coast of N. S. Wales’ (1900)
‘The Gundungurra Language’ (1901)
‘The Thoorga and Other Australian Languages’ (1902)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 17
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1902
Title: The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 36
Pages: 71-106
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published in the ten years
from 1900. Mathews adhered to a similar formula in his linguistic writings,
using an almost identical template when documenting grammar and vocabulary.
He states in the opening paragraph of this publication that its purpose is
to proceed with work outlined in his article 'The Victorian Aborigines:
Their Initiation Ceremonies and Divisional Systems' (1898). There he had
claimed that the only way to define the boundaries of Aboriginal nations 'is
to study the languages or dialects of the population, grouping together
those which have an evident affinity'. He states that when he wrote the
earlier article he had personally studied two Victorian languages. Since
then he had 'made several additional journeys through Victoria…for the
purpose of visiting the remnants of the different tribes' and studying 'the
structure of their speech'. The article describes the following languages:
Tyattyalla (spoken around Lakes Werringen and Albacutya); the Tyapwurru and
Wuddyawurru dialects, spoken on the Hopkins River and Ballarat district
respectively); Thaguwurru (spoken around the Goulburn, Campaspe and Ovens
rivers); Woiwurru or Bunwurru dialect (spoken on the Yarra, Saltwater and
Werribee rivers, and extending from the Main Dividing Range south to Geelong,
Melbourne and Western Port); Brabirrawulung (spoken from the Mitchell River
to the Tambo). Mathews describes the grammatical structure of each language,
in most cases arranging his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number', 'Gender',
'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice',
'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Conjunctions'; 'Interjections and
Exclamations'; and 'Numerals'. The article concludes with a section headed
'Vocabulary' which contains 325 English words, followed by their equivalents
in Tyattyalla and Brabirrawulung. The words are arranged under the following
headings: 'Parts of the Body'; 'Natural Objects'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds';
'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons,
Ornaments, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. While Mathews was eager to point out
that he had gathered his information personally, the only Aboriginal
informant he named was Jack Phillips, a Wuddyawurru speaker, who died in
1901. In an appendix to 'Language of the Birdhawal Tribe in Gippsland,
Victoria (1907), Mathews provides a brief description of the grammar of the
language spoken by the Kurnai people. He states that it is intended to
supplement this article. Although he does not explain his reasons, Mathews
evidently had new thoughts about the name of the language. Here it is called
Brabirrawulung, but in the 1907 publication he gives it the name
Gunggaladhang. A further description of Tyattyalla appeared in 'Le langage
Wailwan' (1903). In another French article, 'Langage des Kurnu, tribu
d'Indigènes de la Nouvelle Galles du Sud' (1904), Mathews described Kurnu, a
neighbouring language to Wailwan.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Tyattyalla language
2. Tyapwurru language
3. Wuddyawurru land
4. Thaguwurru language
5. Woiwurri language
6. Brabirrawulung language
7. Woddowro
8. Boandik Language
9. Bunwurru language
10. Kurnai (or Kunnai)
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Lake Werringen
2. Lake Albacutya
3. Geelong VIC
4. Bendigo VIC
5. Pyramid Hill
6. Murray River
7. Kingston SA
8. Border Town SA
9. Goulburn River
10. Campaspe River
11. Ovens River
12. Melbourne VIC
13. Western Port
14. Tarwin River
15. Cape Howe
16. Australian Alps
17. Gippsland
INFORMANTS
1. Jack Phillips: 'My Wuddyawurru informant, "Jack Phillips," died in 1901'
(85).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1898 article on initiatory rites and social organisation of the native
tribes of Victoria (71).
2. Work on Thaguwurru and Woiwurru tongues (72).
3. 1901 work on aboriginal languages of NSW (72-3).
4. 1901 report on languages of eastern Victoria (75).
5. Grammar of Murray River tribes (86).
6. Former article on tribes of Victoria (93).
7. NSW marriage laws and totemic systems (93).
CROSS-REFERENCES
'Language of the Birdhawal Tribe in Gippsland, Victoria' (1907) gives a
grammar of the language spoken by the Kurnai people.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (1902)
‘The Victorian Aborigines: Their Initiation Ceremonies and Divisional
Systems’ (1898)
‘Le langage Wailwan’ (1903)
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 98
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1902
Title: Languages of some Native Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales
and Victoria
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 36
Pages: 135-90
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
nine Aboriginal languages from various parts of eastern Australia. The
languages are: Yualeai (spoken in southern Queensland around the Bokhara,
Birrie, Narran, Ballonne and Moonie rivers); Pikumbil (spoken on the Weir
and Macintyre rivers in Queensland); Kawambarai (spoken on the Barwon River,
New South Wales, in the areas of Bogabilla, Boobera and Tulloona); Wongaibon
(spoken along the Lachlan River from Booligal to Uabbalong and then to
Nyngan, Cobar, Paddington and Ivanhoe); Kurnu (spoken along the Arling River
from Tilpa to Bourke and up the Warrego River as far as Fords Bridge); the
[…] 'Mystic Language' spoken in Kurnu and Kamilaroi communities (this is a
secret language used only by men […]); Dyirringan (spoken in the northern
half of the County of Auckland on the south-east coast of New South Wales);
Yota-Yota (spoken on the Murray River from Cobram for some distance below
Echuca, extending south into Victoria as far as Shepparton and north into
New South Wales to Deniliquin); and Bureba (spoken on both sides of the
Murray River from Swan Hill to Wentworth). With all the languages except
Tyake, Mathews describes the grammatical structure, arranging his material
under headings/sub-headings that include: 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including
notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions';
'Exclamations'; and 'Numerals'. The grammar of the […] 'mystic' languages is
presumably the same as Kurnu or Kamilaroi. Mathews provides examples of
vocabulary only. He does not reveal the circumstances in which the Kurnu
secret language was explained to him, however he relates that the 'mystic
language' of the Kamilaroi tribe was imparted when he attended the Bora
ceremony at 'Tallwood', described in 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes'
(1896). The article concludes with two sections of vocabulary. The
'Vocabulary of Kurnu Words' lists 220 terms in English, followed by their
Kurnu equivalent. The words are arranged under the following headings: 'The
Family'; 'The Human Body'; 'Inanimate Nature'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes';
'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Weapons'; 'Adjectives'. This is succeeded by
'Vocabulary of Yualeai and Yota Yota Words' which lists 365 terms in
English, followed by their equivalents in the two Aboriginal tongues. The
words are arranged under the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human
Body'; 'Inanimate Natural Objects'; 'Animals-Mammals'; 'Animals-Birds';
'Animals-Fishes'; 'Animals-Reptiles'; 'Animals-Invertebrates'; 'Trees and
Plants'; 'Weapons, Utensils, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs. In this article
Mathews does not name any Aboriginal informants, although he emphasises that
'[e]very word has been carefully written down by myself from the lips of the
native speakers'. In 'Langage des Kurnu, tribu d'Indigènes de la Nouvelle
Galles du Sud' (1904) Mathews gives an expanded account of Kurnu grammar. In
'Australian Folk-Tales' (1909) he identifies one of his Jirringan (spelled
here as Dyrringan) informants 'an old blackfellow whom the white people
called 'Jerry''.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Yualeai
2. Pikumbil
3. Kawambarai
4. Wongaibon
5. Kurnu
6. Dyrringan (subsequently referred to as Jirringan)
7. Yotayota
8. Bureba
9. Kamilaroi
10. Dippil
11. Turubul
12. Wiradhuri
13. Thoorga language
14. Thawa
15. Muddhang
16. Ngarrugu
17. Yota-yota
18. Thaguwurru
19. Wamba-wamba
20. Giani-ginai
21. Yabula-yabula
22. Watti-watti
23. Latyu-latyu
24. Muti-muti
25. Nyerri-nyerri
26. Darti-darti
27. Birra-birra
28. Itha-itha
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Cape Howe
2. Maranoa River
3. Hawkesbury River
4. Burnett River
5. Bokhara River
6. Birrie River
7. Narran River
8. Ballonne River
9. Moonie River
10. Weir River
11. Macintyre River
12. Goondiwindi
13. Miles
14. Gandah
15. Maryborough
16. Ispwich
17. Leyburn
18. Barwon River NSW
19. Bogabilla NSW
20. Boobera NSW
21. Tulloona NSW
22. Lachlan River
23. Uabbalong
24. Nyngan
25. Cobar
26. Paddington
27. Ivanhoe
28. Darling River
29. Tilpa
30. Bourke
31. Warrego River
32. Fords Bridge
33. Wilcannia
34. Menindie
35. Wentworth
36. Torawotta Lake
37. Barrier Ranges
38. Paroo River
39. County of Auckland
40. Andersons Inlet
41. Tarwin River
42. County of Buln Buln
43. Murray River
44. Cobram
45. Euchuca VIC
46. Shepparton VIC
47. Deniliquin NSW
48. Swan Hill VIC
INFORMANTS
1. 'reliable old natives' (154).
2. 'old men and women in the native camps' (175).
3. 'native speakers' (179).
4. See cross-reference below.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Work on languages of SA, VIC and NSW (135-6).
2. Article on 'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (136).
3. Bora ceremonies of Kamilaroi (137).
4. Kamilaroi social organisation (137).
5. Work on initiation ceremonies of Dippil and Turubul (143).
6. Social organisation of Dippil and Turubul (143).
7. Papers on Wiradhuri social organisation (148).
8. Social organisation and initiation ceremonies of Barkunjee tribes (154).
9. Work on secret or cabalistic languages in NSW tribes (157).
10. List of words from the mystic language of the Kamilaroi, 'collected when
attending the Bora ceremony held at Tallwood in 1895' (159).
11. 1896 Article on initiation ceremonies of the Dyirringan (161).
12. Notation of sacred songs (161).
13. Inauguration ceremonies and divisional systems amongst the Victoria
Aborigines (168).
CROSS REFERENCES
‘Langage des Kurnu, tribu d’Indigènes de la Nouvelle Galles du Sud’ (1904)
gives an expanded account of Kurnu grammar.
In 'Australian Folk-Tales' (1909) Mathews names 'an old blackfellow whom the
white people called "Jerry"' as a Jirringan (spelled here as Dyrringan)
informant.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
‘The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes’ (1896).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 165
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1902
Title: The Thoorga and other Australian Languages
Journal: American Antiquarian
Volume: 24
Pages: 101-06
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Language elicitation
Music - vocal
Abstract: This article was Mathews' first contribution to American
Antiquarian. It is one of more than 20 publications documenting Aboriginal
languages that Mathews published between 1900 and 1910. Although this paper
is shorter, it is very similar to 'The Thoorga Language' (1901-02). Mathews
adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template when
documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews commences by
commenting on pronunciation and explaining the orthography he has employed.
He then describes the grammar of Thoorga, which is spoken by 'the natives of
the Tuross, Clyde, Moruya and other rivers' along the South Coast of New
South Wales. Mathews describes grammatical structure by arranging his
material under the following headings: 'Nouns'; 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns';
'Verbs'; 'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; and 'Conjunctions'. The article
concludes with a one-and-a-half page description of Thurrawal (also spelled
Dharawal) which Mathews had previously described in 'The Thurrawal Language'
(1901) and other publications. Although he does not state how he obtained
his data, there is evidence in R. H. Mathews' Papers (National Library of
Australia) that he worked directly with Thurruwal and Thoorga people.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Thoorga
2. Thurrawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Tuross
2. Clyde
3. Moruya
4. County of St. Vincent
5. County of Dampier
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
Not applicable.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Thurrawal Grammar: Part I (1901)
‘The Thurrawal Language’ (1901)
‘The Thoorga Language’ (1901-02)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 108
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1902-03
Title: The Murawarri and other Australian Languages
Journal: Queensland Geographical Journal
Volume: 18
Pages: 52-68
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Murawarri (also spelled Muruwari), the language spoken by 'a large tribe
occupying a region of Southern Queensland, from the Warrego River to the
Culgoa'. Mathews explains the information he provides 'was carefully
gathered by myself, without the assistance of any person, in the camps of
the several native tribes whose languages are herein dealt with'. In
addition to Murawarri, the article also describes three other languages:
Burranbinya (spoken in New South Wales along the Darling River from above
Brewarrina down to Bourke and on the lower portions of the Bokhara, Bogan
and Culgoa rivers); Tharumba (spoken on the coast of New South Wales between
the Shoalhaven River and Ulladulla, reaching inland as far as the Great
Dividing Range); and Wuttyabullak (spoken in the County of Borung and
surrounding country in western Victoria). Mathews describes the grammatical
structure of Murawarri, arranging his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number', 'Gender',
'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice',
'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; and 'Numerals'. Burranbinya,
Tharumba and Wuttyabullak are described in less detail. Mathews also writes
that in Aboriginal communities there are 'mystic' or 'secret' languages
spoken exclusively by men during initiations. Mathews had previously
described this in 'The Thoorga Language' (1901-02). The article concludes
with a section headed 'Vocabulary of Murawarri Words' which contains 270
English words, followed by their equivalents in Murawarri. The words are
arranged under the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human Body';
'Natural Objects'; 'Animals-Mammals'; 'Animals-Birds'; 'Animals-Fishes';
'Animals-Reptiles'; 'Animals-Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons,
etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Murawarri
2. Thoorga
3. Yookumbill
4. Burranbinya
5. Tharumba
6. Wuttyabullak
7. Dyirringan
8. Thurrawal
9. Tharumba
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Warrego River
2. Culgoa
3. Brewarrina
4. Bourke
5. Bokhara River
6. Culgoa River
7. Bogan River
8. Shoalhaven River
9. Ulladulla
10. Dividing Range
11. Borung
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
INFORMANTS
1. 'aboriginal speakers' (53).
2. 'old men and women in the native camps' (65).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Refers to articles on Thoorga and Yookumbill languages, contributed to
Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (52).
2. Refers to articles on Yualeai and Pikumbil languages, contributed to
Royal Society of New South Wales (52).
3. Refers to articles on Thoorga, Yookumbill, Murawarri, Burranbinya,
Tharumba and Wuttyabullak languages contributed to this same journal (52).
4. States that he has practically 'dealt with all the aboriginal languages
of Victoria, nearly the whole of New South Wales, and a large region of
South-eastern Queensland' (53).
5. States that he is 'the first author to report' (54) certain grammatical
peculiarities amongst languages of Queensland, New South Wales and
Queensland.
6. Refers to work on Dyirringan language (58).
7. Refers to work on initiation ceremonies and social organisation
(intermarrying laws) of the Tharumba (58).
8. States that he was first to report certain grammatical peculiarities
amongst languages of Victoria (58).
9. Refers to contribution on kinship and descent of Wattyabullak made in
1898 to Anthropological Society in Washington.
10. States that he was the first to describe the mystic tongue and considers
his 'discovery of this secret form of speech of great linguistic importance'
(64).
11. Refers to article on 'Aboriginal Songs at Initiation Ceremonies',
printed by Royal Geographical Society of Australasia in 1900 (64).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Mathews refers to an 'article' titled 'Aboriginal Songs and Ceremonies'.
This is actually a section of ‘The Thoorga Language’ (1901-02).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 51
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Das Kumbainggeri, eine Eingeborenensprache von Neu-Süd-Wales
Journal: Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft
Volume: 33
Pages: 321-28
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: 'Kumbainggeri, a Native language from New South Wales'
(transl.) is one of nine articles Mathews published in German. It appeared
in Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft, a leading
anthropological journal published in Vienna. While Mathews seems to have had
a basic knowledge of French and German, there is no evidence that he could
write professionally in either language. In 2004 the published German
article was translated back into English by Christine Winter for inclusion
in the Mirranen Archive. The article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper he describes
Kumbainggeri (Gumbaynggir), the language spoken by Aboriginal people living
on the 'northeast coast of New South Wales from Nambucca to Grafton, and
reaching inland to the Main Dividing Range'. Explaining how he obtained his
information, Mathews says that '[e]very word has been noted down carefully
by myself from the mouths of the old men and women in the aboriginal camps.'
Mathews says the system of orthography he has used is a method adapted from
a circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society, London. He then
describes the grammatical structure of Kumbainggeri, arranging his material
under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including
notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; and 'Numerals'. Mathews
states that a secret or 'mystic' language was used by Kumbainggeri men at
initiation ceremonies. The article concludes with a section headed
'Vocabulary of Kumbainggeri' which contains 300 English words, followed by
their equivalents in Kumbainggeri. The words are arranged under the
following headings: 'The Human Body'; 'Inanimate Natural Objects';
'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fish'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees'; 'Weapons &
c.'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. An English-language version of this article
appeared as 'Language and Sociology of the Kumbaingerri Tribe, New South
Wales' (1910).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Speakers of the Kumbainggeri language.
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Northeast coast of New South Wales from Nambucca to Grafton, and reaching
inland to the Main Dividing Range,
2. Aborigines residing at 'a few camping places reserved for their use by
the Government of New South Wales'.
INFORMANTS
1. Nil.
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Nil.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria', Journal and Proceedings of the
Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 36, 1902
2. 'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria', Journal and Proceedings of the
Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 36, 1902.
3. 'Languages of some Native Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales and
Victoria', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales,
vol. 36, 1902.
4. Mathews, 'The Burbung of the Wiradthuri Tribes', Journal of the
Anthropological Institute, vol. 25, 1896.
5. 'The Toara Ceremony of the Dippil Tribes of Queensland', American
Anthropologist, vol. 2 (new series), 1900.
6. Mathews, 'Languages of some Native Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales
and Victoria', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales, vol. 36, 1902.
7. Mathews, 'The Thoorga Language', Queensland Geographical Journal, vol.
17, 1901-02.
8. 'Initiation Ceremonies of Australian Tribes', Proceedings of the American
Philosophical Society, vol. 37, 1898.
9. 'The Walloonggurra Ceremony', Proceedings and Transactions of the
Queensland Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, vol. 15,
1899-1900.
10. 'The Totemic Divisions of Australian Tribes', Journal and Proceedings of
the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 31, 1897.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 94
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Language of the Bungandity Tribe, South Australia
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 37
Pages: 59-74
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Bungandity, the language spoken by around Mount Gambier in the County of
Grey, South Australia, and extending easterly into Victoria as far as the
valley of the Glenelg River. In explaining how he acquired this information,
Mathews says that in recent years he had visited this part of the country
and 'had the good fortune to find a few surviving member of the Bungandity
tribe, from whom I obtained the materials of the present treatise.' Mathews
makes some general comments about the language and kinship system of the
South Australian tribes. He then describes the system of orthography used in
the article, explaining that he has adapted advice from a circular issued by
the Royal Geographical Society, London. He gives an account of the
grammatical structure of Bungandity, arranging his material under the
following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including
notes on 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions; 'Interjections'; and
'Numerals'. The article concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary of
Bungandity Words' which contains approximately 245 English words, followed
by their equivalents in Bungandity. The words are arranged under the
following headings: 'The Family'; 'Parts of the Body'; 'Inanimate Nature';
'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees and
Plants'; 'Weapons, Utensils, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Bungandity
2. Booandik
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Mount Gambier, County of Grey SA
2. Glenelg River
3. Kingston SA
4. Bordertown SA
5. Lake Eyre SA
6. Oodnadatta SA
7. Alton Downs
8. Innamincka
9. Port Lincoln SA
10. Mount Gambier SA
11. Alice Springs
12. Arltunga
13. Port Darwin
INFORMANTS
1. 'a few surviving members of the Bungandity tribe' (59).
2. 'aboriginal speakers' (59).
3. 'Friends who have visited Alice Springs and Arltunga during the last
couple of years' (62).
4. 'old men and women in the native camps' (71).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. 'Friends who have visited Alice Springs and Arltunga during the last
couple of years'? (62).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. NSW, VIC and QLD grammars (60).
2. NSW and VIC grammars (60).
3. Bungandity social organisation and initiation ceremonies contributed to
Anthropological Society of Washington (60).
4. Social organisation of SA Aborigines, American Philosophical Society
(62).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 100
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Languages of the Kamilaroi and Other Aboriginal Tribes of New
South Wales
Journal: Journal of the Anthropological Institute
Volume: 33
Pages: 259-83
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Kamilaroi, the language spoken in New South Wales 'from Jerry's Plains on
the Hunter River as far as Walgett and Mungindi on the Barwon, taking in the
greater part of the basins of the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers'. Also discussed
in this article are the following languages or dialects: Yauan, the 'mystic'
language of the Kamilaroi; Darkinung; Wallarai; Wirraiarai; and Guinbrai.
There is also an appendix on the pronouns of Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland. Explaining how he acquired this information, Mathews says that
it was gathered personally from Aboriginal camps. Mathews states his method
of orthography is adapted from a circular issued by the Royal Geographical
Society, London. Mathews then describes the grammatical structure of
Kamilaroi, arranging his material under the following headings/sub-headings:
'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case');
'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and
'Tense'); 'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; 'Interjections and Exclamations';
'Numerals'; and 'Conjunctions'. The article then describes the 'Yaun, or
Mystic Language', which is spoken only by men who have undergone initiation
in the Kamilaroi Bora ceremony. Mathews conjectures that this language 'is
possibly a typical remnant of earlier or conquering tribes in the remote
past'. He provides about a page of words and expressions from this language.
Wallarai, Wirraiarai and Guinbrai are discussed collectively in a brief
section. Mathews is convinced that they are not discrete languages but
simply northern dialects of Kamilaroi. He gives examples of a few phrases
and expressions from the dialects. Darkinung is described in more detail.
This language is spoken in the 'counties of Hunter, Northumberland and Cook,
extending from Wilberforce and Wiseman's Ferry on the Hawkesbury river, to
Jerry's Plains and Singleton on the Hunter, and including the basins of the
Colo and Macdonald rivers, Wollombi Brook and other streams'. Mathews
accounts for the grammatical structure of Darkinung in the same way as he
has done for Kamilaroi. This is followed by a section headed 'Vocabulary of
Kamilaroi and Thurrawal Words' which contains about 900 words. The English
term is given first, followed by its equivalent in Kamilaroi and Thurrawal.
The words are arranged under the following headings: 'The Human Body';
'Inanimate Objects in Nature'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles';
'Insects; 'Adjectives'; and 'Verbs'. A 'Vocabulary of Darkinung Words' is
also provided, containing about 330 terms arranged under the following
headings: 'Parts of the Body'; 'Inanimate Objects'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds';
'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Insects; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons, Utensils,
etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. The paper concludes with an appendix which
makes some general remarks about the languages of Victoria, South Australia
and Queensland. Mathews discusses an issue that has long intrigued him: how
the pronoun 'we' has two forms, 'one of which includes the person addressed
and the other excludes him'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kamilaroi
2. Thurrawal language
3. Gundungurra language
4. Dharruk language
5. Wiradthuri
6. Wallarai dialect
7. Wirraiarai dialect
8. Guinbrai dialect
9. Darkinung language
10. Dharruk
11. Woddowro
12. Wuddyawurru
13. Bungandity
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Jerrys Plains
2. Hunter River
3. Walgett
4. Mingindi
5. Barwon River
6. Namoi River
7. Gwydir River
8. County of Hunter
9. County of Cook
10. County of Northumberland
11. Wilberforce
12. Wisemans Ferry
13. Hawkesbury River
14. Singleton
15. Colo River
16. Macdonald River
17. Wollombi Brook
18. Great Australian Bight
19. Port Darwin
INFORMANTS
1. ' the few old natives who still speak their own dialect' (271).
2. 'the native speakers' (275).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Nil
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1901 Royal Society of New South Wales article on Thurrawal, Gundungurra
and Dharruk languages (259).
2. Mathews states that he was the first author to describe the Kamilaroi
Bora, 'having visited and camped with the natives for the purpose of
acquiring the information' (259).
3. Social organisation and intermarrying laws of Kamilaroi (259-60).
4. 1896 article on Wiradthuri secret language (269).
5. Gundungurra and Dharruk languages (271).
6. Darkinung Burbung, Royal Society of Victoria, 1897 (271).
7. Laws of descent, Royal Society of New South Wales, 1897 (271).
8. Thurrawal grammar, Royal Society of New South Wales (282).
9. 'Murawarri and other Languages', Queensland Geographical Journal (283).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 101
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Languages of the New England Aborigines, New South Wales
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 42
Pages: 249-63
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Anewan, the language spoken 'over the southern half of what is known as the
'table-land' of new England, including Macdonald river, Walcha, Uralla,
Bendemeer, Armidale, Hillgrove and other places' in northern New South
Wales. He also documents Banbai, a neighbouring language spoken around Guyra,
Ben Lomond, Wollomombi and Kookarabooka. Explaining how he acquired this
information, Mathews says it was gathered personally from Aboriginal camps.
He emphasises that work such as this should be done urgently because the
'native tribes are disappearing rapidly before the advancing tide of
European population, and unless some person qualified for the task shall
take up this highly important subject, the languages and the customs of an
interesting primitive people will be lost to science'. In explaining his
system of orthography, Mathews states that the method he has used is adapted
from a circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society, London. Mathews
first describes the grammatical structure of Anewan, arranging his material
under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including
sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'
(including notes on 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions';
'Conjunctions'; 'Interjections and Exclamations'; and 'Numerals'. Banbai is
then described in similar fashion. Mathews then makes some general remarks
about the use of a secret or 'mystic' language by men at initiation
ceremonies. The article concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary of
Anewan Words' which contains 210 English words, followed by their
equivalents in Anewan. The words are arranged under the following headings:
'The Human Body'; 'Natural Surroundings'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes';
'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons, etc';
'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. No vocabulary of Brinbai is given.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Anewan language
2. Banbai language
3. Gundungurra language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Macdonald River
2. Walcha
3. Uralla
4. Bendemeer
5. Armidale
6. Hillgrove
7. Guyra
8. Ben Lomond
9. Wollomumbi
10. Kookarabooka
INFORMANTS
1. 'native speakers' (250).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Refers generally to his other work on language (250).
2. Previous work on secret language, 1902 (?), Royal Society of New South
Wales (259).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 102
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Le langage Wailwan
Journal: Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'Anthropologie de Paris
Volume: 4 (5th Series)
Issue: 1
Pages: 69-81
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Abstract: 'The Wailwan Language' (transl.) is one of more than 20
publications documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between
1900 and 1910 and one of nine articles Mathews published in French. It
appeared in Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'Anthropologie de Paris, a
leading anthropological journal. Although Mathews seems to have had a basic
knowledge of French and German, there is no evidence that he could write
professionally in either language. 'Le langage Wailwan' credits Oscar
Schmidt as the translator. In 2004 Schmidt's French version was translated
back into English by Mathilde de Hauteclocque for inclusion in the Mirranen
Archive. Mathews always adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using
a template when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews
describes Wailwan, the language spoken in northwest New South Wales by
Aboriginal communities residing 'on both sides of the Barwon river, from
Walgett as far as Brewarrina; it can be heard all the way back up the
Castlereagh, Macquarie and Mara rivers up to about 70 miles to the south'.
In explaining how he acquired this information, Mathews says it was gathered
during 'my own personal investigations, among the native tribes, without the
assistance from a single other person'. He also provides a brief description
of the Tyattyalla language which is spoken along the Wimmera River in
Victoria. In explaining his system of orthography, Mathews states that the
method he has used is adapted from a circular issued by the Royal
Geographical Society, London. He then describes the grammatical structure of
Wailwan, arranging his material under the following headings/sub-headings:
'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number' and 'Gender'); 'Declensions';
'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'; 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; and
'Interjections and Exclamations'. Mathews then makes some brief comments
about the wide distribution of Wailwan and its dialects. He refers the
reader to other articles he has written about the ceremonies and kinship
system of Wailwan people and their neighbouring communities. The description
of the Tyattyalla language of western Victoria appears in an appendix.
Mathews thought it appropriate to bring it to the attention of French
readers because-in common with the language spoken in a certain area of
South Australia-'there exists a triple number, a fact which has not been
reported in any other part of the Australian continent'. The explanation of
Tyattyalla grammar follows the same format as Wailwan, although it is
somewhat shorter. The article concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary'
which contains a list of 200 words in Wailwan. The words are arranged under
the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human Body'; 'Natural
Surroundings'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates';
'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. Although no Tyattyalla vocabulary is published here,
one can be found in 'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (1902).
Notes: Translated into French by Oscar Schmidt.
TRIBES
1. Wailwan
2. Wiradyuri
3. Wongaibon
4. Kamilaroi
5. Yualeai.
6. Yukumbil
7. Pikumbil
8. Tyattyalla
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Barwon river
2. Walgett
3. Brewarrina
4. Castlereagh River
5. Macquarie River
6. Mara River
7. Albury
8. Murray River
9. Wimmera river
10. Western Victoria
11. South Australia
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. ‘The Burbung of the Wiradthuri Tribes’. Journal of the Anthropological
Institute, vol. 25, 1896.
2. ‘The Burbung of the Wiradthuri Tribes (Part II)’. Journal of the
Anthropological Institute, vol. 25, 1896.
3. ‘The Burbung, or Initiation Ceremonies of the Murrumbidgee Tribes’,
Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 31,
1897.
4. ‘The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes’, Proceedings of the Royal Society of
Victoria, vol. 9 (New Series), 1986.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
‘The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria’ (1902).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 113
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Notes on Some Native Dialects of Victoria
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 37
Pages: 243-53
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. In this paper Mathews describes the following 'dialects' from
Victoria: Woiwurru and Bunwurru (spoken by the 'Yurundyeri sub-tribe, which
formerly roamed over the country watered by the Yarra and Plenty rivers,
including the site on which Melbourne and its suburbs now stand'); Lewurru
(spoken around Saint Arnaud and surrounding country); Nundatyalli (spoken
around Horsham); and Yabula-Yabula (a dialect of Yota-Yota spoken on both
sides of the Murray River around Echuca). In explaining his system of
orthography, Mathews refers his reader to an earlier Royal Society of New
South Wales publication, 'Language of the Bungandity Tribe, South Australia'
(1903). The comments on the Woiwurru and Bunwurrru dialects are very
general. He does not give the more detailed explanation of grammar that
usually appears in his linguistic documentation. However he does describe
his principal informant in some detail. This was Billy Berak (also spelled
Barak) who had died in August 1902, shortly after Mathews spoke to him for
the last time. Mathews was introduced to Berak by J. Shaw, the manager of
Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, where he had lived for some years. Mathews
commissioned a photographer to take a portrait of Berak, which is reproduced
in the article. The grammar of Lewurru, Nundatyalli, and Yabula-Yabula are
briefly described under headings such as 'Nouns', Adjectives', 'Pronouns'
and 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Woiwurru dialect
2. Bunwurru dialect
3. Lewurru dialect
4. Buibatyalli dialect
5. Nundatyalli dialect
6. Yabula-yabula dialect
7. Tyeddyuwurru language
8. Yota-yota language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Yarra River
2. Plenty River
3. Coranderrk
4. Batman
5. Port Phillip Bay
6. St. Arnaud
7. Hopetoun
8. Lake Hindmarsh
9. Horsham
10. Gippsland
11. Murray River
INFORMANTS
1. '"Billy Berak," [also spelled 'Barak'] a member of the Yurundyeri
sub-tribe, which formerly roamed over the country watered by the Yarra and
Plenty Rivers' (see 'other notes') (244-5).
2. 'native speakers' (253).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Photograph - Billy Berak, the last of the Yarra River, Victoria. (From a
photograph taken four months before his death).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Languages of Victoria (243).
2. Bungandity language (243).
3. Woiwurru and Bunwurru boundaries (244).
4. Language naming after the negative adverb (244).
5. Victorian languages (244).
6. Social organisation and initiation ceremonies of Victoria Aboriginal
People, Anthropological Society of Washington (245).
7. Music and words of several Aboriginal songs (246).
8. Tyattyalli language 1902 (246).
9. Tyeddyuwurru language (250).
10. Tharumba language (250).
CROSS REFERENCES
See letters at MS 8006/6/1 indicating that H. E. Percy was the 'photographic
acquaintance'.
Scan of the original photo located at HWF CD21
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 136
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Some Aboriginal Languages of Queensland and Victoria
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 42
Pages: 179-88
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. He adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template when
documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Murawarri (the language spoken 'on the southern frontier of Queensland,
between the Warrego and Culgoa rivers, reaching also some distance into New
South Wales) and Wamba Wamba ('spoken among the remnants of the native
tribes about Swan Hill on the Murray river, and extending southerly into the
State of Victoria beyond Lalbert and Tyrell creeks, the lower Avoca river,
etc'). In explaining his system of orthography, Mathews states that the
method he has used is adapted from a circular issued by the Royal
Geographical Society, London. The documentation of Murawarri (also spelled
Muruwari) largely duplicates that published in 'The Murawarri and other
Australian Languages' (1902-03). Description of grammatical structure is
arranged under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including
sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'
(including notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions';
'Conjunctions and Interjections'; and 'Numerals'. Wamba Wamba is then
described in similar fashion. No examples of vocabulary are provided.
Mathews makes no statement about how he acquired his data, however he says
in 'The Murawarri and other Australian Languages' that the information
reported 'was carefully gathered by myself, without the assistance of any
person'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Gundungurra language
2. Murawarri language
3. Wamba Wamba language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Warrego River
2. Culgoa River
3. Swan Hill VIC
4. Lalbert Creek
5. Tyrell Creek
6. Avoca River
7. Campaspe River
8. Lodden River
9. Avoca River
10. Melbourne VIC
11. Euchuca VIC
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1898 article on Murawarri social organisation (180).
2. 1898 list of totems for Wamba Wamba phratries, Anthropological Society of
Washington (184).
3. Work on Gundungurra language 1901 (185).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 192
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903
Title: Native Languages of Victoria
Journal: American Anthropologist
Volume: 5 (new series)
Pages: 380-82
Keywords: Language - grammar
Language elicitation
Abstract: In this short, two page article Mathews reports that '[a]ll
the native tribes of eastern Victoria, although differing widely in
vocabulary, are the same in grammatical structure as the Thurrawal tongue'.
Thurrawal is a language indigenous to the South Coast of New South Wales
which Mathews had described in 'The Thurrawal Language' (1901) and other
publications. Mathews wrote that despite this basic similarity several
Victorian languages have a distinctive feature in that word endings are
changed by a 'trial number' which affects 'all the parts of speech subject
to inflection'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Thurrawal
2. Tyattyalla
3. Tyapwurru
4. Wuddyawurra also Woddowro
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Victoria
2. New Hebrides
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Publications on the Thurrawal, Gundungurra and Dharruk Languages.
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 69
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1903-04
Title: Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of Western
Australia
Journal: Queensland Geographical Journal
Volume: 19
Pages: 45-72
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Rock art
Abstract: This substantial article on Western Australia includes
sections on 'Origin of the Australian Aborigines'; 'Rock Pictures' (rock
paintings, rock carvings); '[Social] Organisation'; 'Superstitions'; and
'Language'. There are short descriptions of initiation ceremonies and the
extraction of teeth. The rock art material includes a description of line
drawings of rock engravings and a photograph of a painted spirit figure from
the Kimberley. The article is not based on personal investigation. Instead,
Mathews made extensive use of European correspondents. He wrote to station
owners, police officers and other settlers, seeking help in his research.
Their assistance is acknowledged. In the section of the paper on social
organisation Mathews surmises that in the past smaller tribes amalgamated
into larger confederacies. He outlines the various types of kinship and
marriage system operative in Western Australia. The section of the article
on language gives vocabularies of the Roebourne and Lower Fitzroy districts.
Each vocabulary is arranged under headings that include: 'Family Terms,
Etc.'; 'Parts of the Body'; 'Natural Objects'; 'Animals'; 'Weapons';
'Adjectives'. The article concludes with a minor correction of Mathews'
article 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of the Northern
Territory' (1901). In 'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' (1905) Mathews
modified his view that the Australian moieties are exogamous. He requested
that '[i]n any of my previous articles…in which it may be stated that an
aboriginal community comprises "two exogamous divisions," the reader is
requested to substitute "two principal divisions."'
Notes: TRIBES
1. Wommalunna (language)
2. Andikarina
3. Arrinda
4. Chingalee
5. Inchalee
6. Warkya (or Waggaia)
7. Parnkalla
8. Yowerawarraka
9. Barkunjee
10. Kishu (language)
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Cumberland County
2. Hunter County
3. Upper Murchison River
4. Gascoyne River
5. Ashburton River
6. Fortescue River
7. Yule River
8. Mount Stewart Station
9. Hillside Station
10. Shaw River
11. De Grey River
12. Lyndon River
13. Murchison River
14. Depuch Island
15. Balla Balla
16. Ord River
17. Halls Creek
18. Margaret River
19. Sturt Creek
20. Fitzroy River
21. Fraser River
22. Lenard River
23. Glenelg River
24. Bachsten Creek
25. Calder River
26. Collier Bay
27. Dongarra
28. Onslow
29. Perth
30. Albany
31. Eucla
32. Norseman
33. Lake Barlee
34. Deeside Station
35. Georgina River
36. Lake Macdonald
37. Greenough River
38. Sanford River
39. Roderick River
40. Wooramel River
41. Lyons River
42. Weld Spring
43. Bonython Creek
44. Lake Throssall
45. Elder Creek
46. Glen Cumming
47. Oakover River
48. Throssell River
49. Roeburne district
50. Maitland River
51. Lower Fitzroy River
52. Ord River
53. Denham River
54. Wave Hill Station on Victoria River
55. Daly Waters
56. Elsey Creek
57. McArthur River
58. Calvert River
59. Rockland Station
60. Charlotte Waters
61. Alice Springs
62. Cape Arid
63. Fremantle
64. Shark Bay
65. Roebourne
66. Condon
67. Carnarvon
68. Geraldton
69. Derby
70. Wyndham
71. Beagle Bay
72. Weld Springs
73. Parker Ranges
74. Minilya River
75. Station at Lyndon River
76. Cossack
77. Yeeda Station, near Derby
78. Darling River
INFORMANTS
1. Station owners/managers (45).
2. Police Force (45).
3. Others, by recommendation of current informants (45).
4. Mr. H. A. Hall (48) - initials given as Mr. W. A. Hall on p. 64.
5. Mr. William Byron (near Balla Balla?) who sent Mathews 'about forty
copies of rock carvings on Depuch Island, of which there are hundreds' (48).
7. Mr. J. Wilson (49).
8. Mr. J. C. Rose (49).
9. Mr. J. Hancock (49) and others (49).
10. Mr. Thos. Muir, J. P. of Deeside Station, WA (51).
11. Mr. J. Cahill, manager of Wave Hill Station, on Victoria River (53).
12. Mr. W. Holze, of Daly Waters (53).
13. Mr. M. Costello (54).
14. Mr. A. H. Glissan of Rockland Station (54).
15. Mr. H. T. Knight, station manager, Lyndon River (63).
16. Mr. G. Buchanan, Flora Valley Station, near Hall's Creek in the
Kimberley district (63).
17. Baibung, 'a native of the Roebourne district' (66).
18. Mr. A. E. Clifton, manager of the Yeeda Station, near Derby (66).
19. Mr. W. J. Wilson, police officer at Hall's Creek, in the Kimberley
district (66).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr H. A. Hall / W. A. Hall.
2. Mr. William Byron (near Balla Balla?).
3. Mr. J. Wilson.
4. Mr. J. C. Rose.
5. Mr. J. Hancock.
6. Mr. Thos. Muir, J. P.
7. Mr. J. Cahill.
8. Mr. W. Holze.
9. Mr. M. Costello.
10. Mr H. T. Knight.
11. Mr. A. E. Clifton.
12. Mr. W. J. Wilson.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Drawing - rock carvings.
2. Photograph - rock painting.
3. Mathews believes that it is important to reproduce one of Mr. R. S.
Brockman's photographs in this article 'because the Journal of this Society
will go into many channels which will not be reached by the report of Mr.
Brockman's discoveries' (50).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Refers to work on probable origins of Aboriginal People and the
development of some of their customs in an article contributed to the
twelfth session of the International Congress of Prehistoric Anthropology
and Archaeology, held at Paris in 1900 (45).
2. Refers to own published work on rock carvings in New South Wales (46).
3. Refers to work reported to the Anthropological Society at Paris in 1898,
which describes paintings similar to those found by Mr. Brockman (50).
4. Refers to work on Nanarri system of New South Wales, described in 1900
(51).
5. Refers to work on details of the intermarriages of the Chingalee tribe,
contributed to the Anthropological Society at Washington (53).
7. Refers to work contributed to the Royal Society of New South Wales
(53-4).
8. Refers to work on the divisions of the Elsey Creek tribe contributed to
the Society of Anthropology at Paris (54).
9. Refers to work on Chingalee vocabulary and totems contributed to the
Royal Geographical Society at Brisbane in 1901. Mathews acknowledges the
help of Mr. Holze in supplying some of the basic data for this piece (54).
10. Refers to work on the eight sections of the McArthur and Calvert Rivers
tribes communicated in 1899 to American Philosophical Society at
Philadelphia. Mathews acknowledges the help of Mr. Costello in supplying
some of the basic data for this piece (54).
11. Refers to work on the eight sections of the Inchalachee and Warkya
tribes, 'which were tabulated under my direction by Mr. A. H. Glissan,
Rockland Station, and reported by me in 1899) (54).
12. Refers to work detailing descent of Northern Territory Tribes,
contributed in 1901 to the Geographical Society of Queensland (61).
13. Refers to 'tolerably full descriptions' (61) given elsewhere of
initiation ceremonies (61).
14. Refers to his article, 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of
the Northern Territory' (63).
15. Refers to his treatise on 'The Origin, Organisation, and Ceremonies of
the Australian Aborigines', which is accompanied by a map ... (63).
CROSS-REFERENCES
‘Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of the Northern Territory’
(1901).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 57
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: Die Sprache des Tyeddyuwurru-Stammes der Eingebornen von
Victoria
Journal: Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft
Volume: 34
Pages: 71-76
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: 'The Language of the Tyeddyuwurru Tribe of the Natives from
Victoria' (transl.) is one of nine articles Mathews published in German. It
appeared in Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft, a leading
anthropological journal published in Vienna. While Mathews seems to have had
a basic knowledge of French and German, there is no evidence that he could
write professionally in either language. Although no translator is credited
in any of the German articles, the existence of translator's comments in the
published footnotes establish conclusively that someone other than the
author translated the text from English into German. In 2004 the published
German article was translated back into English by Christine Winter for
inclusion in the Mirranen Archive. The article is one of more than 20
publications documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between
1900 and 1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a
template when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper he describes
Tyeddyuwurru, the language spoken by Aboriginal people living along 'the
upper parts of the Lodden, Avoca and Wimmera rivers, and also at the
Richardson River and its tributary streams in the state of Victoria'. In
explaining how he acquired this information, Mathews says that the
information was 'collected orally by visiting the natives in their camps'.
Mathews states that his method of orthography is the same as that used in
his earlier publication 'Das Kumbainggeri: eine Eingeborenensprache von
Neu-Süd-Wales' (1903) also published in German. Mathews describes the
grammatical structure of Tyeddyuwurru, arranging his material under the
following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including
notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; and 'Prepositions'.
Unusually for an article on linguistics, Mathews gives no examples from the
vocabulary of Tyeddyuwurru.
Notes: TRIBES
1. The people living along 'the upper parts of the rivers Lodden, Avoca and
Wimmera rivers, and also at the Richardson River and its feeder rivers
[confluent, tributary streams] in the state of Victoria'.
2. Tyeddyuwurru
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Lodden, Avoca and Wimmera rivers, and also at the Richardson River and
its tributary streams in Victoria.
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Nil.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'Das Kumbainggeri: eine Eingeborenensprache von Neu-Süd-Wales',
Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft, vol. 33, 1903.
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 70
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales
and Victoria
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 38
Pages: 203-381
Keywords: Avenging
Baiame - stories and motifs
Body scars
Bush tucker
Ceremonies - initiation
Clever people
Cooking & eating
Indigenous knowledge - astronomy
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Mortuary customs
Reproduction - childbirth
Sorcery
Stories & motifs
Technology - implements/tools
Totems
Abstract: At a length of 178 pages, this is the most substantial
journal article published by Mathews. With the addition of some extra
material (on circumcision and subincision), it was entirely republished one
year later as a book. For a detailed abstract see entry for Ethnological
Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and Victoria (1905).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Nguemba
2. Kamilaroi
3. Wirraidyuri
4. Thurrawal
5. Wombya
6. Parnkall community
7. Wailwan
8. Wongaibon
9. Thangatti
10. Kumbainggeri
11. Thoorga
12. Wirraidyuri language
13. Tharumba
14. Tyat-tyalli language
15. Wimmera
16. Woiwurru
17. Bunwurru
18. Wuddyawurru
19. Thaguwurru
20. Tyapwurru
21. Dhauhurtwurru
22. Bungandity
23. Peekwurru
24. Chaapwurru
25. Yota-Yota
26. Darkinung
27. Nimbaldi
28. Kurna
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Barwon River
2. Namoi River
3. Castlereagh River
4. Jerry's Plains (Hunter River)
5. Hunter River
6. Walgett
7. Mungindi on the Barwon River
8. Namoi River
9. Gwydir River
10. Hawkesbury River
11. Cape Howe
12. Brewarrina
13. Darling River
14. Bogan River
15. Nyngan
16. Cobar
17. Byrock
18. Mulga Creek
19. Macleay River
20. Narooma, County of Dampier
21. County of Dampier
22. Upper Lachlan River
23. Clarence River
24. County of Kara-Kara, VIC
25. Bourke, NSW
26. Louth, NSW
27. Swan Hill, VIC
28. Murray River
29. Grampian Hills
30. Wimmera River
31. Beaufort
32. Hexham
33. Wickliffe
34. Port Lincoln, SA
35. Lake Eyre Basin, SA
36. Warrnambool, VIC
37. Portland
38. Dhinmar (Lady Julia Percy Island)
39. Geelong, VIC
40. Castlemaine, VIC
41. Pyramid Hill
42. Forest Hill
43. Sturt's Creek, WA
44. Ord River, WA
45. Fitzroy River, WA
46. Upper Murray River
47. Mitta River
48. Kiewa River
49. Ovens River
50. Buffalo River
51. Upper Goulburn River
52. King River
53. Broken River
54. Yarra River
55. Saltwater River
56. Avoca River
57. Byrock, Parish of Bye, County of Cowper
58. Western Railway Line
59. Caronga Peak woolshed, near Byrock
60. Wilgaroon
61. Wittaguna
62. Lake Cudgellico
63. Kangaroo Valley
64. Upper Lachlan River
65. Port Phillip, VIC
66. Mount Freeling, SA
67. Daly River, NT
68. Tuross River
69. Mehi River
70. Gwydir River
71. Jeparit
72. Horsham Plain
73. Lake Hindmarsh
74. Lake Albacutya
75. Wonga Lake
76. Pine Plain
77. Cow Plain
78. Mukbilli
79. Milparinka
80. Tibooburra
81. Cobham
82. Broken Hill
CROSS-REFERENCES
See 1905 version of this paper for further information.
'Social Organisation of the Ngeumba Tribe, New South Wales' (1908) adds a
genealogical table to supplement the material here on the Blood and Shade
divisions.
'Folklore of some Aboriginal Tribes of Victoria' (1907) adds further stories
from Victoria to those published here.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 91
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: Langage des Kurnu, tribu d'Indigenes de la Nouvelle Galles du
Sud
Journal: Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'Anthropologie de Paris
Volume: 5 (5th series)
Issue: 2
Pages: 132-38
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: 'Language of the Kurnu Tribe, New South Wales' (transl.) is
one of more than 20 publications documenting Aboriginal languages that
Mathews published between 1900 and 1910 and one of nine he published in
French. It appeared in Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'Anthropologie
de Paris, a leading anthropological journal. Although Mathews seems to have
had a basic knowledge of French and German, there is no evidence that he
could write professionally in either language. Oscar Schmidt is credited as
the translator. In 2004 Schmidt's French version was translated back into
English by Mathilde de Hauteclocque for inclusion in the Mirranen Archive.
Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template when
documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper he describes Kurnu, a
language spoken along the Darling in western New South Wales. Mathews says
that the territory of the language is extensive. It is spoken 'between Tilpa
and Louth and extends on both sides of this river [the Darling], up to
Bourke, and even a little beyond'. He says it is also spoken along 'the
Warrego river as far as Ford's Bridge and with dialectical variations along
the southern parts of the Darling, 'downstream, from Tilpa, via Wilcannia
and Menindie [sic], as far as Wentworth, that is to say for a distance of
about 350 miles'. In addition, it 'penetrates further behind the Darling
River, as far as the Tarowoto Lake and the Barrier Ranges and returns to the
Paroo River as far as the Queensland border.' In 1903 Mathews had described
Wailwan, a neighbouring language, in a report also published by the Société
d'Anthropologie in Paris (titled 'Le langage Wailwan'). He had also given a
basic description of Kurnu in 'Languages of Some Native Tribes of
Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria' (1902), published by the Royal
Society of New South Wales. As he acknowledges, this first account failed to
describe the unusual and complex grammar of Kurnu. After the publication of
the 1902 article he made a journey into Kurnu territory where he interviewed
male and female elders. He found that the grammar resembles no other New
South Wales language he had previously encountered, its chief peculiarity
being that past, present and future are indicated by inflections in the
pronouns. Mathews states that his method of orthography is the same as that
employed in 'Le langage Wailwan' (1903). That is to say, it was adapted from
a circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society, London. Mathews then
describes the grammatical structure of Kurnu, arranging his material under
the following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections
on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs';
'Adverbs'; and 'Prepositions'. The description of the pronouns, which bear
an unusual character, is quite extensive. Unlike the majority of his
linguistic publications, there is no Kurnu vocabulary. Perhaps this was
because Mathews had already published a list of 220 Kurnu terms in
'Languages of Some Native Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales and
Victoria' (1902).
Notes: Translated by Oscar Schmidt.
TRIBES
1. Wailwan
2. Kurnu
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Darling River
2. Tilpa
3. Louth
4. Bourke
5. Warrego River
6. Fords Bridge
7. Tilpa
8. Wilcannia
9. Menindie
10. Wentworth
11. Tarowoto Lake
12. Barrier Ranges
13. Paroo River
14. Queensland / NSW border
INFORMANTS
1. Information ‘gathered by myself in the Kurnu territory, from reliable and
intelligent elders of both sexes’.
CORRESPONDENTS
Nil.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. ‘Le langage Wailwan’, Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie
de Paris, vol. 4 (5th series), 1903,
2. ‘Languages of Some Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria’,
Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 36,
1902.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 96
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: Language of the Wuddyawurru tribe, Victoria
Journal: Zeitschrift für Ethnologie
Volume: 36
Pages: 729-34
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Although it appeared in Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, a German journal,
it was published in English. Mathews generally adopted a formula in his
linguistic writings, using a template when documenting grammar and
vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes Wuddyawurru, the language spoken
in the territory extending 'from Werribee river to Ballarat; thence
southerly via Lake Korangamite to Cape Otway, and thence by the coast back
to Werribee river.' Mathews acknowledges that he has previously described
this language in his article 'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (1902).
However because the previous commentary was brief, he proposes here to
'furnish examples of the different parts of speech not touched upon in my
former treatise, together with a short vocabulary of Wuddyawurru words.'
This said, the article itself is brief, running to just four pages. The
comments on grammar are arranged under the following headings: 'Articles';
'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; and 'Numerals'. The article concludes with a
section headed 'Vocabulary' which contains 150 English words, followed by
their equivalents in Wuddyawurru. The words are arranged under the following
headings: 'The Family'; 'Parts of the Human Body'; 'Inanimate Nature';
'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Weapons and Manufactures';
'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Wuddyawurru
2. Kullidyan
3. Dyargurt
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Werribee River
2. Ballarat
3. Lake Korangamite
4. Cape Otway
INFORMANTS
1. 'aboriginal speakers ' (71).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Article on Kogai language (71).
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 97
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: Language, Organization and Initiation Ceremonies of the Kogai
Tribes, Queensland
Journal: Zeitschrift für Ethnologie
Volume: 36
Pages: 28-38
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Language - grammar
Abstract: This article was Mathews' first contribution to Zeitschrift
für Ethnologie. All five of Mathews' contributions to this German journal
were published in English. The bulk of this article conforms to the more
than twenty publications documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews
published between 1900 and 1910. In addition it contains brief statements on
the kinship system and initiation practices of the Kogai people, who, as
Mathews states, 'are scattered over an extensive region of Southern
Queensland, watered by the Balonne, Maranoa and Coogoon rivers, and
extending westerly towards Wallam Creek'. Mathews adopted a formula in his
linguistic writings, using a template when documenting grammar and
vocabulary. In explaining his purpose in this article, Mathews says that
because the Australian Aborigines are 'rapidly dying out before the
advancing tide of European civilization' something must be done to document
the languages, ceremonies and social organisation before it is 'lost to
science'. Mathews' description of Kogai grammar is preceded by an
explanation of his orthography which, he states, is adapted from a circular
issued by the Royal Geographical Society, London. The grammatical structure
is documented. Mathews arranges his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'; 'Adverbs';
'Prepositions'; 'Conjunctions'; 'Interjections and Exclamations'; and
'Numerals'. Mathews then mentions a 'mystic' or secret language, used by men
[…]. While pointing to its existence, he does not give any examples of this
secret language. The kinship system is described under the heading 'Social
Organization of the Kogai'. He states that each tribe is divided into two
phratries (moieties), each of which is divided into two sections. His
observations on the Kogai initiation ceremony is confined to two paragraphs.
He says it is 'identical' to the Kamilaroi Bora which he has previously
described in 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes' (1896). The article
concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary of Kogai Words' which contains
335 English words, followed by their Kogai equivalents. The words are
arranged under the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human Body';
'Inanimate Natural Objects'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fish'; 'Reptiles';
'Invertebrates'; 'Trees'; 'Weapons, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. In
'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' (1905) Mathews modified his view that
the Australian moieties are exogamous. He requested that '[i]n any of my
previous articles…in which it may be stated that an aboriginal community
comprises "two exogamous divisions," the reader is requested to substitute
"two principal divisions."'
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kogai
2. Yualeai
3. Murawarri
4. Pikumbil
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Balonne River
2. Maranoa River
3. Coogoon River
4. Wallam Creek
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Yualeai grammar and vocabulary, Royal Society of New South Wales (first
page).
2. Murawarri language, Royal Geographical Society of Queensland (first
page).
3. Pikumbil grammar (first page).
4. Mathews refers to his discovery of the double form of the first person of
the dual and plural: 'It may me mentioned that I was the first author to
give full details of this peculiarity in the aboriginal languages of
Australia' (second page).
5. Mystic language Royal Society of New South Wales: 'I was the first
author), [sic] to draw attention to this mystic tongue …. I consider my
discovery of this mystic form of speech is of great linguistic importance,
and I invite the reader to peruse the vocabularies in the book referred to'
(sixth page).1901 article on songs used at initiation ceremonies, Royal
Geographical Society of Queensland (sixth page).
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 110
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: The Native Tribes of Victoria: Their Languages and Customs
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 43
Pages: 54-70
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Stories & motifs
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. He adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template when
documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Dhauhurtwurru, the language spoken by the Ngutuk people who live around
Portland and Lake Condah in Victoria. The article also contains observations
on initiation, folklore and kinship. In explaining how he acquired this
information, Mathews says that he spoke to 'old men and women in the native
camps'. He does not name his informants. In the opening paragraph Mathews
states his motivation for conducting this research. He began to take
'special journeys among the remnants of the Victorian tribes' because 'the
rites and customs of the people had not received the attention which their
importance deserved'. Mathews then explains the system of orthography used
in the article. He states that the method he has used is adapted from a
circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society, London. This is followed
by a description of the grammatical structure of Dhauhurtwurru in which
material is arranged under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Articles';
'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives';
'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense');
'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; 'Conjunctions'; and 'Numerals'. The grammar is
followed by a section headed 'Vocabulary' which contains about 260 English
words, followed by their equivalents in Dhauhurtwurru. The words are
arranged under the following headings: 'The Family'; 'The Human Body';
'Inanimate Nature'; 'Mammals'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates';
'Weapons, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. The linguistic material is succeeded
by other ethnographic data. Initiations are mentioned in one short paragraph
which refers the reader to the Mathews' descriptions of the Wonggumuk and
Kannety ceremonies, published in 'Some Initiation Ceremonies of the
Aborigines of Victoria' (1905). A section headed 'Folklore' recounts two
legends that were told to Mathews 'by some old aboriginals of the Hopkins
and Eumeralla rivers in western Victoria'. The first, titled 'Tyuron, the
Eel Spearer', concerns a man of the Kappaty phratry who was a notable
ancestor of the plovers. The second, titled 'Murkupang and Mount Shadwell',
concerns Murkupang, a giant hairy man who lives in a cave on the Hopkins
River. He creates various landmarks after killing two children. He turns
into the mopoke after being tracked down by warriors. A section headed
'Sociology' describes the kinship and marriage system of western Victoria.
The communities are divided into two intermarrying phratries (moieties)
which are not divided into sections. Mathews published a slightly expanded
version of the story 'Murkupang and Mount Shadwell' in American Antiquarian
under the title 'A Giant in a Cave-An Australian Legend' (1907). In
'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' (1905) Mathews modified his view that
the Australian moieties are exogamous. He requested that '[i]n any of my
previous articles…in which it may be stated that an aboriginal community
comprises "two exogamous divisions," the reader is requested to substitute
"two principal divisions."'
Notes: TRIBES
1. Dhauhurtwurru
2. Bungandity
3. Wuddyawurru
4. Tyattyalli
5. Kamilaroi
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Portland, VIC
2. Lake Condah, VIC
3. Glenelg River
4. Gellibrand River
5. Hopkins River
6. Eumeralla River
7. Maroona
8. Wickliffe
9. Hexham
10. Mount Shadwell
11. Castlemaine
12. Pyramid Hill
13. Lake Tyrell
14. Lady Julia Percy Island ('the native name of which is Denmar') (70).
15. Warnambool
INFORMANTS
1. 'old men and women in the native camps' (62).
2. 'the aboriginal speakers' (55).
3. 'some old aborigines of the Hopkins and Eumeralla rivers in western
Victoria' (66).
4. 'some old blackfellows' (70).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1898 paper contributed to Anthropological Society at Washington on
initiation ceremonies and divisional systems of Victorian Aborigines (55).
2. 'In 1902 I read another paper on the aboriginal languages of Victoria
before the Royal Society of New South Wales' (55).
3. 'I was the first to report, in any of the Australian languages, the
important grammatical forms referred to in this paragraph' (55).
4. 'my Bungandity grammar' (60).
5. 'my Kamilaroi grammar' (61).
6. 'I have elsewhere described some important ceremonies of initiation in
use among the native tribes of Victoria' (66). He goes on to briefly
describe some of these ceremonies (65).
7. 'Other inaugural ceremonies used in eastern Victoria and elsewhere are
described by me in a contribution tot he Anthropological Society at
Washington' (66).
8. Article published in 1898: 'I gave a short description of the social
organisation of the tribes occupying the southwestern districts of Victoria'
(68).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Some Initiation Ceremonies of the Aborigines of Victoria' (1905)
'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1905)
An expanded version of ‘Murkupang and Mount Shadwell’ was published as 'A
Giant in a Cave—An Australian Legend' (1907).
Reference Type: Journal Article**
Record Number: 158
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904
Title: The Wiradyuri and other Languages of New South Wales
Journal: Journal of the Anthropological Institute
Volume: 34
Pages: 284-305
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
three New South Wales languages: Wiradyuri (also spelled Wiradjuri), spoken
in 'an immense region in the central and southern portions' of the state;
Burreba-Burreba, spoken 'from about Deniliquin to Moulamein, and from the
latter southerly towards the Murray river'; and Ngunawal, spoken in 'the
country from Goulburn to Yass and Burrowa, extending southerly to Lake
George and Goodradigbee'. Mathews says he gathered the information
personally from speakers of the languages. This is followed by a statement
on the system of orthography used in the article. Mathews states that his
method is adapted from a circular issued by the Royal Geographical Society,
London. Mathews then describes the grammatical structure of Wiradyuri,
arranging his material under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns'
(including sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives';
'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense');
'Prepositions'; 'Adverbs'; 'Interjections; and 'Numerals'. The grammar of
Burreba-Burreba and Ngunawal and described in similar fashion. There is a
brief section headed 'Initiation Ceremonies and Marriage Laws' which
concerns the Burreba-Burreba community only. Mathews says that their
initiation ceremonies are 'the same in all essential respects' to those of
the Wiradyuri which he has described in 'The Burbung, or Initiation
Ceremonies of the Murrumbidgee Tribes' (1897). The kinship and marriage
system is also similar to the Wiradyuri. He explains it by means of a table
which shows the community to be divided into two exogamous phratries
(moieties), each of which is divided into two sections. The article
concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary of Wiradyuri Words' which
contains about 430 English words, followed by their equivalents in
Wiradyuri. The words are arranged under the following headings: 'Family
Terms'; 'Parts of the Body'; 'Natural Objects'; 'ANIMALS-Mammals';
'ANIMALS-Birds'; 'ANIMALS-Fishes'; 'ANIMALS-Reptiles';
'ANIMALS-Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons'; 'Adjectives';
'Verbs'. This is followed by 'Vocabulary of Ngunawal Words' in which 290
words are arranged under the same headings. There is no vocabulary of
Burreba-Burreba.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Wiradyuri
2. Ngunawal
3. Kamilaroi
4. Burreba-burreba language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Goulburn
2. Yass
3. Burrowa
4. Lake George
5. Goodradigbee
6. Lachlan River
7. Macquarie River
8. Murrumbidgee River
9. Deniliquin
10. Moulamein
11. Murray River
12. Swan Hill
INFORMANTS
1. ' the old native men and women who still speak the native tongue' (285).
2. 'Wiradyuri natives' (299).
3. ' old men and women in the native camps' (302-3).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Map in article published by American Philosophical Society 1898 (284).
2. Map in article published by Royal Society of New South Wales 1898 (284).
3. Map in article published by Anthropological Society at Washington 1898
(284).
4. Article on Kamilaroi language published by Journal of the Anthropological
Institute of Great Britain (284).
5. Article on Wiradyuri initiation ceremonies (285).
6. Wiradyuri initiation ceremonies (294).
7. 1896 article on Bunan ceremony Anthropological Society at Washington
(294).
8. 1900 account of abbreviated inaugural ceremony (294).
9. 1901 article on songs, including musical notation, Royal Geographical
Society of Queensland (295).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 67
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1904-05
Title: Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of Queensland
Journal: Queensland Geographical Journal
Volume: 20
Pages: 49-75
Keywords: Language elicitation
Kinship and marriage
Abstract: Like many of the Mathews articles titled 'Ethnological
Notes…', this is a mixed bag of ethnographic data. Information on kinship
and marriage customs is combined with linguistic documentation and
anthropological debate. The title is also a little deceptive in that the
section titled 'Sociology of Tribes in Central Australia' has nothing to do
with Queensland. The first six pages of the article describe the kinship and
marriage laws of three Queensland tribes: the Wonkamurra who occupy the
southwest corner of Queensland around Warry-Warry Creek and Lower Wilson
River; the Murawarri (also spelled Muruwari), who occupy 'an extensive
region on the southern frontier of Queensland between the Warrego and Culgoa
Rivers, reaching also some distance into New South Wales'; and the Baddyeri
'whose hunting grounds extend from about Yantabulla to Hungerford, Eulo,
Thargomindah, and intervening country'. While the Wonkamurra community is
divided into two intermarrying phratries (moieties) without further
'sections' or sub-divisions, each of the two moieties of the Murawarri and
Baddyeri communities are further divided into two exogamous sections. In the
discussion of each tribe, the kinship system is explained through use of a
table. While this was typical of Mathews' writings on kinship, there are
signs of how his views had changed since his discussion of Ngeumba kinship
in 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1904) (republished as Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes
of New South Wales and Victoria [1905]). The Murawarri people are the
northern neighbours of the Ngeumba, and Mathews discerned an important
similarity between their kinship systems. Mathews writes in this article
that Murawarri kinship is significantly complicated by the existence of
social categories which he calls 'bloods' and 'shades'. He states that the
'blood' and 'shade' divisions, as well as the moiety and section, must be
taken into consideration by tribal elders when spouses are chosen. He
describes the political significance of betrothals, and how they allow
certain families to form alignments that permit them greater say in the
tribal councils. This is followed by a section of about six pages titled
'Grammar of the Baddyeri Language'. It adheres to the model established by
Mathews in most of his linguistic analysis. Mathews states that his system
of orthography is adapted from a circular issued by the Royal Geographical
Society, London. He then describes the grammatical structure of Baddyeri,
arranging his material under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns'
(including sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives';
'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense');
'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; and 'Numerals'. A section headed 'Vocabulary'
contains 320 English words, followed by their equivalents in Baddyeri. The
words are arranged under the following headings: 'The Family; 'The Human
Body'; 'Inanimate Nature'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles';
'Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons and Effects'; 'Adjectives';
and 'Verbs'. The section headed 'Sociology of the Inchalachee or
Inchalanchee Tribe' concerns communities residing around the Gregory and
Nicholson rivers, on Barclays Tableland, Yelvertoft, Rocklands, Camooweal
and extending into the Northern Territory. Mathews states that he is adding
to material published in 'The Group Divisions and Initiation Ceremonies of
the Barkunjee Tribes' (1898) and 'Divisions of Some Aboriginal Tribes,
Queensland' (1899). Working from new data supplied by 'the same capable and
reliable friends who worked under my directions', he supplies a new table
explaining the eight section kinship system of the Inchalachee communities.
It is backed up by discussion of totems and argument that the system is
matrilineal. Mathews also argues that there were 'irregularities' in the
marriage customs of this community. His correspondents found that in some
cases where a man had more than one wife, she came from a section other than
that into which he was expected to marry according to the standard
regulations. This was nonetheless tolerated by the community. The section of
the article titled 'Sociology of Tribes in Central Australia' is in part an
amendment to earlier publications. Table VI, concerning the Neening tribes,
amends Table 1 of 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of the
Northern Territory' (1900-01). Table VII, concerning the Binbingha tribe of
the McArthur River, amends a table in 'The Wombya Organization of the
Australian Aborigines' (1900). The most important material in this section
of the article concerns the succession of totems and the relationship
between peoples' totems and their territory or 'recognised hunting grounds',
as Mathews called it. The article concludes with an appendix which replies
to accusations made by W. Baldwin Spencer in his paper 'Totemism in
Australia', published in the Tenth Report of the Australasian Association
for the Advancement of Science (1905). Spencer had denigrated Mathews'
anthropology, claiming that it 'corroborate[s] or make[s] use of the works
of Messrs. Howitt, Fison, Ridley, and others, without adding any matter of
importance.' Mathews refutes this by citing examples of Spencer and Gillen's
writings that corroborate (while failing to acknowledge) writes he had made
about Central Australian kinship and marriage customs in publications
predating their own. In 'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' (1905) Mathews
modified his view that the Australian moieties are exogamous. He requested
that '[i]n any of my previous articles…in which it may be stated that an
aboriginal community comprises "two exogamous divisions," the reader is
requested to substitute "two principal divisions."' On page 73 of
'Initiation Ceremonies of the Murawarri and Other Aboriginal Tribes of
Queensland' (1906) Mathews made some minor corrections to this article.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Murawarri
2. Yualeai
3. Pikumbil
4. Baddyeri
5. Kogai
6. Wonkamurra Nation
7. Parnkalla Nation
8. Barkunjee Nation
9. Inchalachee
10. Workaia
11. Mullinchi
12. Kullalli
13. Bunthamurra
14. Yanderawantha
15. Yowerawarrika
16. Warkaia
17. Neening
18. Binbingha
19. Koodanjee
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Balonne River
2. Moonie River
3. Weir River
4. Macintyre River
5. Maranoa River
6. Coogoon River
7. Cloncurry
8. Camooweal
9. Halifax Bay
10. Yelvertoft
11. Nicholson River
12. Warry-Warry Creek
13. Lower Wilson River
14. Milparinka
15. Bullo Downs
16. Warrego River
17. Culgoa River
18. Gregory River
19. Barklay's Tableland
20. Rocklands
21. Sturt Creek
22. Victoria River
INFORMANTS
1. 'reliable correspondents residing in that part of the country' (51).
2. 'trustworthy correspondents who resided in the locality' (65).
3. 'the same capable and reliable friends' (65).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. 'one of my best correspondents' (67).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1902 grammar of Murawarri language (49).
2. 1902 grammar and vocabulary of Yualeai language (49).
3. 1902 grammar of Pikumbil dialect (49).
4. 1904 grammar and vocabulary of Kogai language (49).
5. 1898 article on Queensland tribal boundaries, American Philosophical
Society (50).
6. 1899. Social divisions of Yanderawantha and Yowerawarrika: 'Their social
divisions … were first discovered and reported by me' (51).
7. 1900 Social divisions of Yanderawantha and Yowerawarrika (51).
8. 1902 grammar and vocabulary of Murawarri language (52).
9. Journal Royal Society of New South Wales article describing 'blood' and
'shade': 'Perhaps it should be stated that I was the first author to
discover and report the castes of "blood" and "shade''' (54).
10. 1898 Royal Society of New South Wales paper on Inchalanchee sections
(65).
11. 1899 Royal Society of New South Wales paper on divisions of same region
(65).
12. General reference to other published lists of totems (67).
13. No. 3 and no. 4 marriages (67).
14. No. 2 marriage 'with the exception of Rev. L. Schulze, I was also the
first to report the 'alternative' law of marriage' (67).
15. 1898 - 1901, various sociologies of important tribes in Central
Australia (68).
16. 1901 Royal Geographical Society of Queensland - eight-section system of
the Neening (68).
17. 1899 American Philosophical Society article on sociology of the McArthur
River (69).
18. 1900 Chingalee, Koodanjee, Binbingha totems (70).
19. 1901 totems in the same region (70).
20. 1901 tabulation of the eight sections, differently arranged (71).
21. 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (74).
22. 1898 eight sections of Wombaia tribe (see 'other notes') (74).
23. 1899 Binbingha sociology (see 'other notes') (74).
24. 1900, 1901 eight sections of Chingalee tribe (see 'other notes') (74).
25. 1900 Royal Society of New South Wales article with sections table (74).
CROSS-REFERENCES
‘Initiation Ceremonies of the Murawarri and Other Aboriginal Tribes of
Queensland’ (1906), page 73, makes minor corrections to this article.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
‘The Group Divisions and Initiation Ceremonies of the Barkunjee Tribes’
(1898)
Reference Type: Book**
Record Number: 66
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1905
Title: Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales
and Victoria
City: Sydney
Publisher: F.W. White General Printer
Number of Pages: 183
Keywords: Avenging
Baiame - stories and motifs
Body scars
Bush tucker
Ceremonies - initiation
Clever people
Cooking & eating
Indigenous knowledge - astronomy
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Mortuary customs
Reproduction - childbirth
Sorcery
Stories & motifs
Subincision
Technology - implements/tools
Totems
Abstract: Running to 183 pages, this book is Mathews' longest and
most substantial anthropological publication. Printed by W. F. White in
Sydney, it was jointly funded by Mathews and the Royal Society of New South
Wales. While the ten-page appendix is new, the remainder of the text-as the
author acknowledges-is an exact replication of the long article of the same
title, published in in 1904. It was not common for the Royal Society to
publish articles of such great length. Perhaps in recognition of Mathews'
substantial publication record the society accommodated this article in the
journal and then assisted financially in the production of the book. However
the involvement of the Royal Society imposed certain restrictions upon
Mathews who, by 1905, had been regularly publishing ethnological material
for twelve years, and would have been in a position to release his major
findings in book form. This was not possible in a publication backed by the
Royal Society which had received complaints about Mathews republishing in
different journals some of his early articles on initiation and rock art.
The society insisted, as Mathews states, that the 'Ethnological Notes'
contain 'original matter only, which had never been published anywhere
before'. Mathews could not re-present or refine earlier findings and found
it necessary to 'enumerate all my former works' in a bibliography.
Ninety-five publications are listed, although the bibliography is not
definitive. Some publications, including all his contributions to Science of
Man, are omitted. Others, listed as independent titles (eg. 'Dharruk
Language and Vocabulary'), are only sections or appendices of other
articles. Owing to the length of this publication, it is not possible to
give a full summary in this abstract. The overall scope of the book can be
determined from the Table of Contents, cited below.
CONTENTS
Introduction
System of Spelling
Sociology of the Nguemba Tribes
Sociology of the Kamilaroi Tribes
Sociology of the Thurrawal Tribes
Childbirth
The Nguemba Language
The Nguemba Vocabulary
Language of the Thangatti Tribe
Thangatti Vocabulary
Pirrimbir or Avenging Expedition
Explanation of Illustration
The Search for Food
Food Regulations, Totems, etc
Mumbirbirri or Scarring the Body
Some Burial and Mourning Customs
Sorcery or Magic
Aboriginal Astronomy-the Zodiac
Sociology of the Tribes of Western Victoria
Sociology of the Tribes of Eastern Victoria
Language of Mothers-in-law
The Wonggoa or Wongupka Ceremony
The Tyibbauga Ceremony
The Dolgarrity Ceremony
Notes on the Initiation of Girls
Aboriginal Mythology and Folklore
- Baiame
- Dhurramulan
- Miscellaneous Superstitions
- Dyillagamberra the Rainmaker
- How the Wongaibon obtained Fire
- How Water was obtained by the Makilaroi People
- The Dhiel and her Water-trough
- Yandhangga
- The Moon and its Halo
- Two Young Men and the Moon
- The Yaroma
- Wallanthagang
- The Wawi and the Song-makers
Achievements of the Brambambults
1. The Ngihdyal
2. Ngaut-ngaut
3. Wirnbullain
4. Dyuni-dyunity
5. Gartuk
APPENDIX
Rite of Subincision
Additional Folklore
The Bat, his Wives and the Native Cat
Origin of Tulliwaka Ana-branch
As the Table of Contents indicates, the book is something of a mixed bag of
ethnographic data. In some parts, such as the sections on the Nguemba and
Thangatti languages, the exposition is similar to that of his many other
articles containing linguistic documentation. Yet there are aspects of this
book that break new ground. The Preface contains information on Mathews'
motivations and working methods. The Introduction opens with two pages of
autobiographical reflections on the author's childhood and background as a
surveyor. The material on the 'Sociology of the Ngeumba Tribe' contains data
not previously reported by any author. The Ngeumba-speaking people,
according to Mathews, 'formerly occupied the country from Brewarrina to the
Darling River southerly up the Bogan almost to Nyngan.' Their territory also
stretched westwards beyond Cobar and Byrock, including 'the upper portions
of Mulga Creek and surrounding country'. In his writings on Aboriginal
kinship and marriage, Mathews had written extensively about the phratries
(moieties), sections and totemic groups into which communities were divided.
While Mathews' research pointed to the existence of a similar kinship
structure in Ngeumba society, he writes that the system was further
complicated by 'blood' and 'shade' divisions which he refers to as 'castes'.
These caste distinctions, he reports, must also be taken into account when
spouses are selected. They also 'regulate the camping or resting places of
the people under the shades of large trees in the vicinity of water or
elsewhere'. Many other sections of the book contain unique insights on
Aboriginal life in Victoria and New South Wales. Especially notable are the
sections on childbirth, scarification, burial and astronomy. The 'Notes on
the Initiation of Girls' run to only two-and-a-half pages, but they are
notable because the (mostly male) anthropologists of this period paid scant
attention to the ceremonial life of women. The section titled 'Aboriginal
Mythology and Folklore' is Mathews' most substantial documentation of
story-telling traditions. Although he retells the stories in his own words
(he never attempted to replicate the syntax of his informants), the
documentation is invaluable. Individual informants are not identified,
however he does name the tribe or locality from which each story originated.
Mathews' perspective as a surveyor-his interest in topographical
specificity-is fully apparent in his recording of folklore. The stories
frequently explain the formation of rivers, mountains and other landmarks.
The section of the appendix titled 'The Rite of Subincision' was not
included in the 1904 version of the publication is preceded with a warning
that parts of it are 'not suitable for the general lay reader'. It describes
the initiatory rite of subincision, […] which was practised in a small part
of northwest New South Wales (and in many other parts of Australia). Mathews
describes the operation in some detail and reproduces two photographs of a
subincised penis that were first published by Professor T. P.
Anderson-Stuart in volume 30 of the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal
Society of New South Wales. In 'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' (1905)
Mathews modified his view that the Australian moieties are exogamous. He
requested that '[i]n any of my previous articles…in which it may be stated
that an aboriginal community comprises 'two exogamous divisions,' the reader
is requested to substitute 'two principal divisions.'' In 'Australian
Folk-tales' (1909) he revealed that the story of Yarroma was told to him by
the Jirringan (Dyirringan) tribe of the New South Wales South Coast.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Nguemba
2. Kamilaroi
3. Wirraidyuri
4. Thurrawal
5. Wombya
6. Parnkall community
7. Wailwan
8. Wongaibon
9. Thangatti
10. Kumbainggeri
11. Thoorga
12. Wirraidyuri language
13. Tharumba
14. Tyat-tyalli language
15. Wimmera
16. Woiwurru
17. Bunwurru
18. Wuddyawurru
19. Thaguwurru
20. Tyapwurru
21. Dhauhurtwurru
22. Bungandity
23. Peekwurru
24. Chaapwurru
25. Yota-Yota
26. Darkinung
27. Nimbaldi
28. Kurna
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Barwon River
2. Namoi River
3. Castlereagh River
4. Jerry's Plains (Hunter River)
5. Hunter River
6. Walgett
7. Mungindi on the Barwon River
8. Namoi River
9. Gwydir River
10. Hawkesbury River
11. Cape Howe
12. Brewarrina
13. Darling River
14. Bogan River
15. Nyngan
16. Cobar
17. Byrock
18. Mulga Creek
19. Macleay River
20. Narooma, County of Dampier
21. County of Dampier
22. Upper Lachlan River
23. Clarence River
24. County of Kara-Kara, VIC
25. Bourke, NSW
26. Louth, NSW
27. Swan Hill, VIC
28. Murray River
29. Grampian Hills
30. Wimmera River
31. Beaufort
32. Hexham
33. Wickliffe
34. Port Lincoln, SA
35. Lake Eyre Basin, SA
36. Warrnambool, VIC
37. Portland
38. Dhinmar (Lady Julia Percy Island)
39. Geelong, VIC
40. Castlemaine, VIC
41. Pyramid Hill
42. Forest Hill
43. Sturt's Creek, WA
44. Ord River, WA
45. Fitzroy River, WA
46. Upper Murray River
47. Mitta River
48. Kiewa River
49. Ovens River
50. Buffalo River
51. Upper Goulburn River
52. King River
53. Broken River
54. Yarra River
55. Saltwater River
56. Avoca River
57. Byrock, Parish of Bye, County of Cowper
58. Western Railway Line
59. Caronga Peak woolshed, near Byrock
60. Wilgaroon
61. Wittaguna
62. Lake Cudgellico
63. Kangaroo Valley
64. Upper Lachlan River
65. Port Phillip, VIC
66. Mount Freeling, SA
67. Daly River, NT
68. Tuross River
69. Mehi River
70. Gwydir River
71. Jeparit
72. Horsham Plain
73. Lake Hindmarsh
74. Lake Albacutya
75. Wonga Lake
76. Pine Plain
77. Cow Plain
78. Mukbilli
79. Milparinka
80. Tibooburra
81. Cobham
82. Broken Hill
INFORMANTS
1. 'my aboriginal informants' (v).
2. 'the wife of a station manager in the north-western districts of New
South Wales. This lady had been a trained nurse and has witnessed several
cases of accouchement among the black women on the station where she
resided' - childbirth (15).
3. 'the aboriginal speakers' - Thangatti vocabulary (34).
4. 'the remnants of the native tribes' - avenging expedition (37).
5. 'two old aborigines' - tree markings and songs (48).
6. 'the aborigines in various places in New South Wales and Victoria' - food
procurement (50).
7. 'My informants were old men who had been operated on in their youth, who
showed me their scars, and had a very vivid recollection of the formalities
connected with the ordeal' - scarring (60).
8. 'old blackfellows' - on trees and astronomy (80).
9. 'old natives' - star names (81).
10. 'A very old Gurgoity blackfellow on the Wimmera River' (90).
11. 'native men who had passed through the ceremonies' (105).
12. 'an old woman of the Wuddyawurru tribe' - several interviews 'respecting
the language and customs of her people (133).
13. 'an old native' on the Mitta Mitta and Ovens Rivers - on the initiation
of girls (134).
14. 'old men and women' (135) - myths and folklore
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Photographs of a tree marked by Pirrimbir Warriors (49).
2. Photographs showing the the effect of subincision on the organ (175).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1904 article of same title: 'This fact will no doubt be considered a
sufficient guarantee that it is up to the standard required in scientific
investigations' (iii).
2. States that the Royal Society of New South Wales has restricted him to
'original matter only, which had never been published anywhere before' (iv),
and that, because he couldn't include any of his previous writings, he had
to 'enumerate all my former works in the 'Bibliography'' (iv).
3. 'I have recorded and published the grammars of fifty Australian languages
and dialects' (iv).
4. Refers readers to 'the comprehensive maps of Australia printed in some of
the articles enumerated in the 'Bibliography'' (v).
5. In previous contributions 'I have comprehensively dealt with aboriginal
rock-pictures, languages, the bora and several other initiation ceremonies,
bullroarers, message-sticks, and native customs generally' (vi).
6. More self-promotion: 'my works have been distributed into the libraries
of most of the learned Societies throughout the world' (vi).
7. Refers to methods of other researchers: 'I have adopted none of the
opinions nor followed any of the methods of other Australian authors, but
have struck out on my own lines, recording all the new and interesting facts
within my reach' (2, emphasis added).
8. Treatises on aboriginal ceremonies and customs published in European and
American journals (2-3).
9. States that he has introduced some additional rules of orthoepy to meet
the requirements of Australian pronunciation (3).
10. Original work on Kamilaroi grammar and vocabulary, published last year
(13).
11. Refers to work published on the secret language of the Kamilaroi 1902
(14).
12. Article contributed to Royal Society of New South Wales in 1900 re
Thurrawal social organisation (14).
13. 1898 report on eight sections of Wombya tribe, NT (15).
14. 1900 report on eight sections of Wombya tribe, NT (15).
15. Reports that the languages of both Wailwan and Wongaibon have already
been published by himself (17).
16. Refers to himself as the first author to report on the importance of
pronouns (19).
17. Grammar and vocabulary of Wirraidyuri language contributed to
Anthropological Institute of Great Britain 1904 (60-1).
18. Initiation ceremonies of Wirraidyuri contributed to Royal Geographical
Society at Brisbane, 1896 (61).
19. Social organisation of Wirraidyuri contributed in two articles to
Anthropological Society at Washington in 1897 (61).
20. Dolgarrity ceremony (84).
21. Article on origin of the intermarrying divisions of Australian tribes,
read at International Congress on Anthropology and Archæology held at Paris
in 1900 (88).
22. Article on sectional divisions, 1897 (88).
23. Article on 'confederacy' hypothesis: 'possibly in the distant past the
present names of the sections represented small independent tribes, which
became incorporated with each other, for the purpoe of mutual defence, or
for other reasons' (88).
24. Tyat-tyalli grammar and vocabulary published in 1902 (90).
25. 1900 - marriage laws of Parnkall nation (94).
26. 1900 - 'limits of the country occupied by the Parnkall nation, and
supplied a map, which no previous author had attempted, in which the
boundaries were accurately delineated' (94).
27. 1900 - initiation ceremonies of the Parnkalla nation (94).
28. Intermarrying laws and inaugural ceremonies among eastern Victoria
tribes, contributed to Anthropological Society at Washington in 1898 (96).
29. 1899 sociology of tribes on Sturt's Creek, Ord River, Fitzroy River, WA,
'which was the first time the eight-section system had ever been reported in
that State' (103).
30. 1900 article on geographic limits of eight-section system (103): 'I was
the first to observe and publish the marriages which are provisionally
distinguished as 'alternative,' 'rare,' and 'exceptional'' (103).
31. Grammars published in New South Wales and America on south-western
Victorian languages (102-3).
32. Work on mystic language of the Kamilaroi, communicated to the
Anthropological Institute of Great Britain (104).
33. Kannety ceremony of initiation in south-west Victoria (120).
34. Wonggumuk ceremony in central and northern districts of Victoria (120).
35. Grinding places reported and illustrated previously (140).
36. Additional information supplied in a paper which was read before the
Royal Society of New South Wales in 1904 (174).
37. 1900 article on phallic rites and initiation ceremonies in SA (174).
Photographs of subincised penis complement this article (174).
CROSS-REFERENCES
‘Australian Folk-tales’ (1909) reveals that the story of Yarroma was told to
Mathews by the Jirringan (Dyirringan) tribe of the New South Wales South
Coast.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 114
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1906
Title: Notes on Some Native Tribes of Australia
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 40
Pages: 95-129
Keywords: Avenging
Bush tucker
Ceremonial objects - Bullroarers
Cooking & eating
Kadaitcha
Pastoral industry workers
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Stories & motifs
Abstract: Mathews states that his intention in this article is to
'deal with the sociology, language, and customs of some native tribes
located in parts of the continent far removed from each other'. He addresses
a different theme in each of eight sub-titled sections. The first, headed
'Sociology of the Kurnu Tribe', concerns the Aboriginal people who occupy
'both sides of the Darling River, from Bourke down to Winbar Station,
extending back both northward and southward into the hinterland of the
Darling for long distances'. The community, he says, is divided into two
moieties or 'cycles', each of which is further divided into two sections.
Members of one section must find their spouse from members of another,
designated section. Mathews states that '[e]verything in the universe,
animate and inanimate, belongs to one or other of the two cycles'. In
addition, 'every individual in the community claims some animal or plant or
other object as his or her totem'. The kinship system of the Kurnu people
also divides the community into 'bloods' and 'shades', similar to that of
the nearby Ngeumba people which Mathews described in Ethnological Notes on
the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and Victoria (1905) and other
publications. There is extended discussion of how the kinship system
operates in a practical sense. The second section is titled 'Sharing of game
and other food'. Most of the information is not specific to particular parts
of the country. Rather it describes customs 'universal' in Aboriginal
Australia. Mathews describes how an animal is divided among relatives.
Particular people get particular parts of an animal, while the hunter keeps
the worst parts for himself. A similar practice is followed with yams,
fruit, seeds, etc. The third section is titled 'Sociology of the Chau-an
tribe'. The Chau-an occupy the country around the Katherine River in the
Northern Territory. Mathews supplies information on Chau-an marriage and
kinship. The community is divided into two moieties or 'cycles', each of
which has four sections. Mathews explains the marriage laws, claiming that a
man can marry women from various sections in accord with his theory on the
admissibility of 'irregular' or 'alternative' marriages. He goes on to
describe the importance of totems and spirit ancestors to mythology, and he
refers to work by others writers on Aboriginal spirit ancestors and
reincarnation. Section 4 is titled 'Languages of tribes about Alice
Springs'. It opens with advice on how to get to Alice Springs from Adelaide.
Mathews hopes this will encourage other researchers to record ethnographic
information. However he makes no claim to having made the journey himself.
He then discusses the ways in which Aboriginal people are finding employment
in the region. The actual description of the language is sketchy. He details
the pronouns in Arranda and Loritya. He also gives an 89-word vocabulary of
the Loritya language. This was sent to him 'by one of my most valued
correspondents in that locality'. A section titled 'Native shoes in the
Northern Territory' describes the bark shoes sometimes worn when traversing
the hot desert country. Referring to the work of E. M. Curr, he also
describes the 'kooditcha' shoes made of feathers and worn by 'Shamans of the
tribe' so as to leave no tracks. The section titled 'Bullroarers' describes
two kinds of instrument used in the Adelaide district: one for ceremonial
purposes and one for hunting. A section titled 'Naming of some native
languages' discusses the custom of naming Aboriginal tribes after the
negative adverb in their language. The eighth and final section is titled
'Gure or Avenging Party'. Mathews discusses the need amongst Victorian
tribes in the areas of the upper Murray, Ovens, upper Goulburn and Yarra
rivers to avenge a death so that the spirit of the deceased would not
'saunter about and harass his relations'. He provides a detailed account of
how an avenging party, or Gure, goes about its business. This article
reveals a general reluctance to name Indigenous informants or white
correspondents. However, Aboriginal informants who were consulted by Spencer
and Gillen are named.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kurnu
2. Barkunjee
3. Yungmunni
4. Chau-an
5. Chingalee
6. Arranda (language)
7. Loritya
8. Yaako
9. Yarlo
10. Iyi
11. Oitibi
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Darling River
2. Bourke
3. Winbar Station
4. Warrego River
5. Fords bridge
6. Alice Springs
7. South-western district of Victoria
8. Katherine River
9. Elsey Creek
10. Port Darwin
11. Finke River
12. Mount Freeling
13. Adelaide
14. Port Lincoln
15. Port Augusta
16. Daly River
17. Coburg Peninsula
18. Perth
19. Oodnadatta
20. Hamilton Bore
21. Bloods Creek
22. Horse-shoe Bend
23. Alice Well
24. Alberga Creek
25. Charlotte Waters
26. Goyders Creek
27. Old Crown Point
28. Depot Well
29. Frances Well
30. Deep Well
31. Ooraminna
32. Lindsay River
33. Lower Finke River
34. Stuart
35. Pine Creek
36. Palmerston
37. Winnecke
38. Arltunga
39. Glen Helen Cattle Station
40. Macdonnell Ranges
41. Musgrave Ranges
42. Lake Amadeus
43. Ehrenberg Ranges
44. Blythe Ranges
45. Petermann Ranges
46. Lake Eyre
47. Croker Island
48. Raffles Bay
49. Port Essington
50. Port Phillip
51. Mary River
52. Upper Murray River
53. Mitta Mitta River
54. Ovens River
55. Upper Goulburn River
56. Yarra River
INFORMANTS
1. 'the natives' (95).
2. 'a capable and reliable resident' (of the Elsey Creek district) (105).
3. Mathews mentions, by name, two of Spencer's and Gillen's informants: '[t]he
two blackfellows, 'Jimmy' and 'Warwick,' who acted as interpreters to
Messers. Spencer and Gillen, are natives of the Lower Finke and Lindsay
Rivers coutry, where they are usually employed on stations and otherwise'
(115).
4. 'a resident' of the Macdonnell Ranges, who forwarded, at Mathews'
request, information regarding pronouns (117).
5. States that the Loritya vocabulary supplied 'has been written down from
the mouths of the native speakers, by one of my most valued correspondents
in that locality' (120).
6. 'an aboriginal native of the Mitta Mitta River' (124).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. 'a valuable correspondent in the Alice Springs district' who, at Mathews'
request sent the latter information regarding the rules relating to the
partitioning of game (104).
2. 'I am informed that ... ' (106) - by whom?
3. States that 'some friends of mine have had business at the mining fields,
in the Alice Springs district' (114). Mathews does not state that these
friends are informants, but this might be surmised. Alternatively, it might
indicate that Mathews carried out his own fieldwork in the district under
the 'patronage' of these friends.
4. 'a resident' of the Macdonnell Ranges, who forwarded, at Mathews'
request, information regarding pronouns.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Refers to article on elementary grammar and vocabulary of the Kurnu
language, contributed to the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1902 (95).
2. Refers to a supplementary grammar of the Kurnu language forwarded to the
Anthropological Society in Paris in 1904 (95).
3. Refers to a description of Kurnu initiation ceremonies submitted to the
Anthropological Society in Vienna in 1904 (95).
4. Refers to an article illustrating the sociology of the Barkunjee tribe,
contributed to the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1905 (96).
5. Refers to sociology of the Yungmunni comminity (Elsey Creek) described
for this journal in 1900 (105).
6. Refers to having described in 1899 sections and grammatical structure of
the language of the people around Alice Springs (116-7).
7. Refers to 1900 published report on Loritya social organisation (four
divisions) (118).
8. Notes having reported in 1903 'some other methods adopted by tribes ...
in naming their dialects' (124).
9. Refers twice to a previous description of the 'Pirrimbir', which is a
similar avenging expedition to the gure (126 and 129).
CROSS-REFERENCE
Mathews referred to the views on preganacy expressed on pp. 107-11 of this
article as correct when he revised opinions expressed in earlier
publications. This occurred in 'Notes on the Arranda tribe' (1907) when he
retracted what he had said in 'Marriage and Descent among the Australian
Aborigines' (1900) and 'Some Aboriginal Tribes of Western Australia' (1901).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 28
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: The Arran'da Language, Central Australia
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 46
Pages: 322-39
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes the
Central Australian language, Arranda, which is spoken 'from Oodnadatta to
Charlotte Waters and onward to Glen Helen Cattle Station and Alice Springs,
in the Macdonnell Ranges'. In explaining how he acquired this information,
Mathews says that is working from data published by Rev. H. Kempe in 1890,
augmented by 'fuller information' collected by 'a capable friend and
correspondent who resides in that district'. Mathews describes the
grammatical structure of Arranda, arranging his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number',
'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on
'Auxiliary Verbs', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions';
'Conjunctions'; 'Interjections'; and 'Numerals'. The article concludes with
a section headed 'Arranda Vocabulary' which contains 160 English words,
followed by their equivalents in Arranda. The words are arranged under the
following headings: 'Family Terms, etc.'; 'Parts of the Human Body';
'Verbs'; and Numerals. Describes the grammar of the Arranda language and
gives a vocabulary of 160 words. This article reveals that information on
Central Australian kinship, published by Mathews in 'Divisions of North
Australian Tribes' (1899), was obtained from the Northern Territory
policeman W. H. Willshire who was accused of killing numerous Aborigines.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Arranda
2. Wiradyuri
3. Kamilaroi
4. Thurrawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Oodnadatta SA
2. Adelaide SA
3. Port Darwin NT
4. Trans-continental railway
5. Charlotte Waters
6. Glen Helen Cattle Station
7. Alice Springs
8. Macdonnell Ranges
9. Finke River
10. Hermannsburg mission
INFORMANTS
1. W. H. Willshire and 'other men who had resided many years in the district
and were well acquainted with the natives' (322).
2. 'a capable friend and correspondent who resides in that district' (323).
3. 'native speakers' (336).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. W. H. Willshire (322).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1899 article on Arranda intermarrying laws (322 and 323).
2. 1900 article with may showing southern boundary of Arranda speaking
people (322).
3. Report on the double 'we' in the languages of south-east SA (325).
4. Kamilaroi, Wiradyuri and Thurrawal grammars (334).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Divisions of North Australian Tribes' (1899)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 93
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: Language of the Birdhawal Tribe in Gippsland, Victoria
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 46
Pages: 346-59
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Birdhawal, the language spoken by the Aboriginal people living in the
extreme eastern corner of Victoria. Mathews says the article was prepared
'from notes taken by myself among the survivors of these people'. Mathews
also provides an appendix describing Gunggaladhang, the language spoken by
the Kurnai people, the western neighbours of the Birdhawal. Mathews states
that his method of orthography is adapted from a circular issued by the
Royal Geographical Society, London. Mathews describes the grammatical
structure of Birdhawal, arranging his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Articles'; 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number',
'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on
'Voice', 'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; and 'Numerals'. The
grammar is followed by a section headed 'Vocabulary' which contains about
285 English words, followed by their equivalents in Birdhawal. The words are
arranged under the following headings: 'Family Terms'; 'Parts of the Body';
'Natural Objects'; 'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes and Reptiles';
'Invertebrates'; 'Trees and Plants'; 'Weapons, Ornaments, etc';
'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'. The appendix on Gunggaladhang, the language of the
Kurnai, is designed to supplement the description that appears in 'The
Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (1902). It contains a brief description of
the grammar. No Kurnai vocabulary is provided.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Birdhawal
2. Kurnai
3. Woiwurru
4. Bunwurru
5. Thagungwurru
6. Thurawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Cape Conron
2. Mullacoota Inlet
3. Bemm River
4. Cann River
5. Thurra River
6. Wingan River
7. Genoa River
8. Bonang
9. Delegete
10. Craigie
11. Queenboro Creek
12. Bondi Creek
13. Nungatta Creek
14. Cape Howe
15. Waratah Bay
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Refers to work on initiation ceremony, known as Dyerrayal, of Birdhawal
tribe - contribution to Anthropological Society of Vienna in 1907 (346).
2. Refers to work on Kurnai tribe: a) description in article, 'The Victorian
Aborigines' contributed to Anthropological Society of Washington, 1898 (346)
; b) short grammar and vocabulary of Kurnai, 'Aboriginal Languages of
Victoria', contributed to the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1902
(346).
3. Refers to having already described the social organisation of the
Thurawal and kindred tribes, which is similar to that of the Birdhawal
(347).
4. Refers to monograph (1902) of elementary grammar of the Gunggaladhang,
language of the Kurnai (357).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'The Aboriginal Languages of Victoria' (1902)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 99
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: Languages of some Tribes of Western Australia
Journal: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
Volume: 46
Pages: 361-68
Keywords: Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes two
Aboriginal languages. The first is Lorritya, the language spoken 'on both
sides of the boundary between Western Australia and South Australia', its
territory extending from Blyth Range to Lake Macdonald and including the
Tomkinson and Petermann ranges. The second is a language for which Mathews
does not know the Aboriginal name. He calls it the 'Erlistoun Language'
because the settlement of Erlistoun is one of the centres where it is
spoken. He reports that there are words common to these and to other Western
Australian languages. In explaining how he acquired this information,
Mathews says that the Lutheran missionary Carl Strehlow supplied the
Lorritya grammar and vocabulary, while Mr Kenneth Young, a Western
Australian settler, provided information on the 'Erlistoun Language' . There
is no evidence that Mathews traveled to these parts of Australia. Mathews
describes the grammatical structure of Lorritya by arranging his material
under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including sections on
'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives'; and 'Pronouns'. Mathews says he
has not yet been able to document the grammar of the language spoken around
Erlistoun. The article concludes with a section headed 'Vocabulary' which
contains a word list giving English terms, followed by their equivalents in
Lorritya and Erlistoun. The words are arranged under the following headings:
'The Body, etc'; 'Inanimate Nature'; 'Animals'; 'Trees and Plants';
'Implements, Utensils, etc'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'; 'Numerals'; and
'Adverbs'. At the conclusion of the article Mathews corrects an error that
appeared in a kinship table published in 'Divisions of North Australian
Tribes' (1899).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Erlistoun tribe
2. Loritya
3. Arranda language
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Ord River
2. Fitzroy River
3. Margaret River
4. Kimberley district
5. Roebourne River
6. Lower Fitzroy River
7. Albany
8. Perth
9. Laverton
10. Weld Spring
11. Blyth Range
12. Lake Macdonald
13. Tomkinson Ranges
14. Petermann Ranges
15. Musgrave Ranges
16. Lake Amadeus
17. Ehrenberg Ranges
18. Swan River
19. Menzies
20. Lake Wells
21. Erlistoun
22. Laverton
23. Duketon
24. Mount Margaret gold field
25. Petermann Range
26. Roebourne
INFORMANTS
1. ' a competent and reliable resident of that part of the country' (364).
2. 'a black fellow belonging to [the Roebourne] portion of Western
Australia' (365).
3. Mr. C. F. T. Strehlow 'who has known the [Loritya] tribe for several
years and who supplied the Loritya grammar and vocabulary (365).
4. Mr. Kenneth Young who supplied the 'vocabulary and other particulars of
the Erlistoun natives' (365).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr. C. F. T. Strehlow (365).
2. Mr. Kenneth Young (365).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1900 sociology of Western Australian tribes, American Anthropologist
(361).
2. 1900 map showing distribution of different tribes with different types of
sociology throughout Western Australia, American Philosophical Society
(361).
3. 1901 sociology and vocabulary of tribe in Kimberley district Journal
Royal Society of New South Wales (361).
4. 1903 rock carvings and vocabularies and languages of Roebourne and Lower
Fitzroy Rivers, Queensland Geographical Journal (361).
5. 1907 sociology of tribes between Albany and Perth and of Erlistoun tribe
(361).
6. Folklore and customs of Western Australia 'in course of publication'
(361).
7. Arranda grammar (362).
8. 1903 vocabulary of dialect spoken at Roebourne 'taken down by myself from
a black fellow belonging to that portion of Western Australia' (365).
CROSS-REFERENCE
'Sociology of Aboriginal Tribes in Australia' (1905) is cited as a
correction to 'Divisions of North Australian Tribes' (1899)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 155
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1908
Title: Vocabulary of the Ngarrugu Tribe N. S. W.
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 42
Pages: 335-42
Keywords: Language elicitation
Kinship and marriage
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Ngarrugu, the language spoken in the Queanbeyan, Cooma and Bombala areas of
New South Wales. The article is an example of the eccentric way in which
Mathews often mixed disparate data in a single publication. There is an
appendix titled 'Explanation re 'Notes on the Arranda Tribe'' which concerns
the kinship system of Arranda people in Central Australia. In presenting the
language documentation which forms the bulk of the article, Mathews
describes Ngarrugu as a 'sister tongue' of Ngunawal, one of the three
languages he described in 'The Wiradyuri and other Languages of New South
Wales' (1904). In explaining how he acquired this information, Mathews says
it was 'obtained by me' from a 'remnant' of the Ngarrugu tribe. The
grammatical structure of the language is not described in detail, although
Mathews claims that it is 'closely similar' to Ngunawal. He provides a
section headed 'Ngarrugu Vocabulary' which contains 260 English words,
followed by their equivalents in Ngarrugu. The words are arranged under the
following headings: 'Family Terms'; 'Parts of the Body'; 'Inanimate Nature';
'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees, Plants,
etc.'; 'Weapons, Ornaments, etc'; 'Adjectives'; and 'Verbs'. The appendix on
Arranda kinship was published at the suggestion of the well-known English
anthropologist W. H. R. Rivers. Adding to data reported in 'Notes on the
Arranda Tribe' (1907), Mathews gives the genealogy of an Arranda woman named
Nakara whose pedigree 'backward to her grandfather' and 'forward to her
grandchild' had been documented by a correspondent. The article concludes
with a correction of the table published on page 74 of Mathews' article
'Australian Divisional Systems' (1898).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Ngarrugu
2. Ngunawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Cooma NSW
2. Bombala NSW
3. Queanbeyan NSW
4. Delegate
5. Yass NSW
6. Booroowa NSW
7. Goulburn NSW
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Dr. W. H. R. Rivers (341).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1904 'short grammar and vocabulary of the Ngunawal language, a sister
tongue of the Ngarrugu' (335).
CROSS REFERENCES
'Notes on the Arranda tribe' (1907).
'Australian Divisional Systems' (1898) is corrected.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 54
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1909
Title: The Dhudhuroa Language of Victoria
Journal: American Anthropologist
Volume: 11 (new series)
Pages: 278-84
Keywords: Language elicitation
Kinship and marriage
Abstract: This article is one of more than 20 publications
documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published between 1900 and
1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings, using a template
when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper Mathews describes
Dhudhuroa, the language spoken in Victoria by the Dyinningmiddhang tribe who
reside along the Mitta Mitta and Kiewa rivers, and along the Murray valley
from Albury to Jingellic. Mathews states that the tribes occupying the
Buffalo, King, Ovens and Broken rivers speak Minyambuta, a dialect of
Dhudhuroa. Mathews does not state how he obtained the information in this
article. In describing the grammatical structure of Dhudhuroa, Mathews
arranges his material under the following headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns'
(including sections on 'Number', 'Gender', 'Case'); 'Adjectives';
'Pronouns'; 'Verbs'; 'Adverbs'; 'Prepositions'; 'Interjections and
Exclamations'; and 'Numerals'. The article concludes with a section headed
'Vocabulary' which contains about 235 English words, followed by their
equivalents in Dhudhuroa.The words are arranged under the following
headings: 'Family Terms'; 'The Human Body'; 'Inanimate Nature'; 'Mammals';
'Birds'; 'Fishes'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees'; 'Weapons';
'Adjectives'; and 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Dyinningmiddhang
2. Dhudhoroa language
3. Minyambuta dialect
4. Walgalu
5. Dyirringan
6. Wiradjuri
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Mitta Mitta River
2. Kiewa River
3. Murray Valley
4. Albury
5. Jingellic
6. Buffalo River
7. Kings River
8. Ovens River
9. Broken River
10. Nimmatabel
11. Bega
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Dyirringan grammar 1902, Royal Society of New South Wales (278).
2. Dyirringan initiation ceremony 1896, Anthropological Society of
Washington (278).
3. Dyinningmiddhand and Minyambuta initiation ceremony 1904, Royal Society
of New South Wales (278).
4. Minyambuta descent, Royal Society of New South Wales (278).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 116
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1909-10
Title: Notes on Some Tribes of Western Australia
Journal: Queensland Geographical Journal
Volume: 25
Pages: 119-36
Keywords: Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Stories & motifs
Abstract: In this overview of Western Australian Aboriginal
traditions, Mathews describes language, marriage and kinship customs,
folklore and 'superstitions'. The article is unusual in that Mathews names a
great many of the white settlers who supplied information by letter. He says
at the beginning that data were collected with the assistance of
correspondents, thereby implying that he has never visited Western Australia
himself. Other information is drawn from previously published sources. The
linguistic description, which includes grammar and vocabulary, concerns the
language spoken in more than half of Western Australia. Mathews does not
give the name of the language. He states that the information was 'condensed
and re-arranged' from material published by Mr Symmons (spelled Simmons in
some other Western Australian publications). It thus duplicates the
linguistic material Mathews had published in 'Some Native Languages of
Western Australia: Part I' (1908). The article is accompanied by a map which
shows the boundaries of different forms of social organisation and the areas
where circumcision and subincision are practised as part of the initiation
rites. While the custom of the community being divided into two moieties and
four sections was common throughout most of the state, in a narrow strip of
country from Dongarra to Exmouth Gulf marriages were arranged according to
the 'tu-or' (which Mathews previously spelled as 'Tooar') system of arranged
marriages. In other communities-those in which each moiety was divided into
two sections-'irregular' or 'alternative' marriages were possible. Such
marriages did not conform to the normal marriage regulations, but were
nonetheless tolerated by the community. The article sheds some light on
Mathews' relationship with the ethnologist Daisy Bates. His attitude is
apparently respectful since he states that he is awaiting the publication of
her 'general account of the aborigines of Western Australia'. The parts of
this article published under the headings 'Folklore' and 'Some Customs and
Superstitions' replicate material previously published in 'Folklore Notes
from Western Australia' (1909).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Loritya
2. Chingalee
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Kalgoorlie
2. Cue
3. Marble Bar
4. Kimberley
5. Blyth
6. Tomkinson ranges
7. Lake Macdonald
8. King George's Sound
9. Roebourne
10. Erlistoun
11. Esperance bay
12. Blyth Ranges
13. Menzies
14. Condon
15. Broome
16. Derby
17. Fraser River Station
18. Hillside
19. Yeeda Station
20. Lower Fitzroy River
21. Joanna Spring
22. Petermann Ranges
23. Malcolm
24. Lake Wells
25. Mount Margaret gold field
26. Milly Milly on the Murchison
27. Nicol Bay
28. Fortescue River
29. Ashburton River
30. Gascoyne River
31. Murchison River
32. Sanford River
33. Balmoral
34. Nantura
35. Milly Milly
36. Braeside
37. Dongarra
38. Exmouth Gulf
39. Albany WA
40. Port Lincoln SA
41. Talata Station WA
42. Eucla WA
43. Sturt Creek
44. Ord River
45. Upper Fitzroy River
46. Durack River
47. Calder River
48. Drysdale River
49. Hall's Creek
50. Denison Downs
51. Koojoobrin
52. Busseltown
53. Cape Chatham
54. Mt. Johnston
55. Bridgetown
56. Mount Barker
INFORMANTS
1. Mr. J. C. Rose, Fraser River Station (128).
2. Mr. J. Wilson, Derby (128).
3. Mr. J. G. Withnell, Hillside (128).
4. A. E. Clifton, Yeeda Station (128). 'Mr. Clifton, in addition, supplied
me with 125 words spoken on the Lower Fitzroy River' (128).
5. Mr. K. Young, in dealing with the Erlistoun community (129).
6. Mr. D. Connors, in dealing with the Erlistoun community (129).
7. Mr. D. Stewart, Balmoral (129).
8. Mr. W. G. Learmonth, Nantura (129).
9. Mr. Edward Smith, Milly Milly (129).
10. Mr. J. T. Hodgson, Braeside (129).
11. 'and others' (129).
12. 'the Manager of Yalata Station' (131).
13. Mr. J. Wilson, Hall's Creek (132).
14. Mr. Stretch, Denison Downs, Sturt Creek (132).
15. Mr. J. C. booty, Koojoobrin (132).
16. 'and others' (132).
17. 'an old resident of the [Albany and Busseltown] district' (132).
18. Mr. Thos. Muir, J.P., of Deeside Station (134).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr. J. C. Rose, Fraser River Station (128).
2. Mr. J. Wilson, Derby (128).
3. Mr. J. G. Withnell, Hillside (128).
4. A. E. Clifton, Yeeda Station (128).
5. Mr. K. Young (129).
6. Mr. D. Connors (129).
7. Mr. D. Stewart, Balmoral (129).
8. Mr. W. G. Learmonth, Nantura (129).
9. Mr. Edward Smith, Milly Milly (129).
10. Mr. J. T. Hodgson, Braeside (129).
11. 'the Manager of Yalata Station' (131).
12. Mr. J. Wilson, Hall's Creek (132).
13. Mr. Stretch, Denison Downs, Sturt Creek (132).
14. Mr. J. C. booty, Koojoobrin (132).
15. Mr. Thos. Muir, J.P., of Deeside Station (134).
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Drawing - Map of Western Australia (136).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1907 grammar and vocabulary of Loritya (120).
2. Erlistoun vocabulary (120).
3. 1903 vocabulary of Roebourne dialect (120).
4. Chingalee divisions (129).
5. 1900 divisions on the Upper Murchison (130).
6. 1900 marriage systems (130).
7. 1904 descent (see 'other notes') (131).
8. 1907 descent (131).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Folklore Notes from Western Australia' (1909) contains the five legends and
other data reproduced here.
In 'Some Native Languages of Western Australia' (1908) Mathews rearranges
Symmons' 1842 linguistic data in essentially the same manner.
Reference Type: Book Section
Record Number: 92
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1910
Title: Language and Sociology of the Kumbaingerri Tribe, New South
Wales
Editor: Shirley, John
Book Title: Report of the Twelfth Meeting of the Australasian
Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Brisbane, 1909
City: Brisbane
Publisher: Published by the Association
Volume: 12
Pages: 485-93
Keywords: Ceremonies - initiation
Kinship and marriage
Language elicitation
Abstract: This article is an English version of 'Das Kumbainggeri,
eine Eingeborenensprache von Neu-Sud-Wales' (1903). It is one of more than
20 publications documenting Aboriginal languages that Mathews published
between 1900 and 1910. Mathews adopted a formula in his linguistic writings,
using a template when documenting grammar and vocabulary. In this paper
Mathews describes Kumbainggeri, the language spoken from Nambucca to Grafton
and as far inland as the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales. Describing
how he acquired this information, Mathews says it came from 'old men and
women in the aboriginal camps'. In explaining his system of orthography,
Mathews states that the method he has used is adapted from a circular issued
by the Royal Geographical Society, London. He then describes the grammatical
structure of Kumbainggeri, arranging his material under the following
headings/sub-headings: 'Nouns' (including sections on 'Number', 'Gender',
'Case'); 'Adjectives'; 'Pronouns'; 'Verbs' (including notes on 'Voice',
'Mood' and 'Tense'); 'Adverbs'; and 'Numerals'. Mathews states that a secret
or 'mystic' language was used by Kumbainggeri […]. He also briefly describes
the kinship system which consists of two 'cycles' (moieties), each of which
is further divided into two sections. There is a table that gives section
names and explains which sections are allowed to intermarry. There is a
brief paragraph on the 'important and imposing' initiation ceremonies of the
Kumbainggeri. Mathews refers his reader to other articles he has written on
this subject: 'Initiation Ceremonies of Australian Tribes' (1898) and 'The
Walloonggurra Ceremony' (1899-1900). The article concludes with a section
headed 'Vocabulary of Kumbainggeri' which contains 300 English words,
followed by their equivalents in Kumbainggeri. The words are arranged under
the following headings: 'The Human Body'; 'Inanimate Natural Objects';
'Mammals'; 'Birds'; 'Fish'; 'Reptiles'; 'Invertebrates'; 'Trees'; 'Weapons
&c.'; 'Adjectives'; 'Verbs'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kumbainggeri
2. Kurnu
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Nambucca
2. Grafton
3. Main Dividing Range
INFORMANTS
1. 'old men and women in the aboriginal camps' (490).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'original articles on the languages of Australian tribes' contributed to
Royal Society of New South Wales (485).
2. Previous articles on mystic language (489).
3. Short vocabularies of the mystic languages of the Kamilaroi and Kurnu,
contributed to Royal Society of New South Wales (489).
4. Article on Kumbainggeri initiation ceremonies, American Philosophical
Society (489).
5. Article on elementary form of Kumbainggeri initiation, Royal Geographical
Society of Queensland (489).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
‘Initiation Ceremonies of Australian Tribes’ (1898).
‘The Walloonggurra Ceremony’ (1899-1900).
'Das Kumbainggeri: eine Eingeborenensprache von Neu-Sud-Wales' (1903)
(German version of this article).