MYTH AND STORY
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 130
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1893
Title: Rock Paintings by the Aborigines in Caves on Bulgar Creek,
near Singleton
Journal: Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales
Volume: 27
Pages: 353-58
Keywords: Baiame - stories and motifs
Rock art
Abstract: This short article was Mathews’ first ethnographic
publication. It describes two caves in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales,
containing Aboriginal rock art. Mathews first saw the caves in 1892 when he
was doing survey work for a farmer named Benjamin Richards. The caves are
located in the parishes of Whybrow and Milbrodale (about fifteen miles from
Singleton). One cave contained a dramatic figure which Mathews believed to
be Baiamai. Other stencils and motifs surround the figure. The second cave
contained hand stencils only. Mathews conjectured that the Baiamai cave had
been a site for ceremonial activity. There are illustrations of both sites.
This paper was read to the Royal Society of New South Wales at their meeting
of 4 October 1893. Mathews documented much more rock art in the greater
Sydney region after this date.
Notes: TRIBES
Not applicable.
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Singleton
2. Parish of Whybrow
3. Parish of Milbrodale
4. Bulgar Creek
5. Wollombi Brook
6. County of Northumberland
7. Bulgar Mountains
8. County of Hunter
9. Bulgar Inlet
10. Thomas Hayes' forty acres
INFORMANTS
1. 'Some of the residents' [of the district] (354).
2. Mr. W. G. McAlpin 'who is now eight-four years of age, and has resided in
the neighbourhood for the last fifty years' (356).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Drawing - Plan showing position of Caves, parishes of Whybrow and
Milbrodale near Singleton.
2. Drawing - Drawings by Aborigines in Cave No. 1
3. Drawing - Drawings by Aborigines in Cave No. 2
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 71
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1898
Title: Folklore of the Australian Aborigines
Journal: Science of Man
Volume: 1 (new series)
Pages: 69-70; 91-93; 117-19; 142-43
Keywords: Baiame - stories and motifs
Stories & motifs
Abstract: This article appeared in Science of Man, a magazine
published by the Anthropological Association of Australasia. Mathews seems
to have regarded this publication less seriously than the scientific
journals in which he mostly published. In the bulk of his Science of Man
contributions, he reworked material published elsewhere. This publication,
however, is a notable exception to this rule. It is Mathews’ first foray
into Aboriginal mythology or ‘folklore’ as he usually described it. In
explaining how he acquired the information presented here, Mathews states
that whenever he was visiting Aboriginal communities, whether for the
purpose of documenting initiation ceremonies, totemic divisions or rock art,
he ‘always listened attentively to the folklore of all the people with whom
I came in contact.’ In this way he collected a large number of legends, some
of which are presented here. A total of seven stories are recounted:—
1. ‘Arrival of the Thurrawal Tribe in Australia’. The story concerns a whale
and a starfish and the arrival of the Thurrawal tribe at Lake Illawarra, New
South Wales.
2. ‘Destruction of Mullion, the Eaglehawk’. This is an elaborate story
concerning a high tree on the Barwon River (New South Wales) inhabited by an
eaglehawk who ate blackfellows. The tree is eventually burnt forming sinuous
depressions on the ground like watercourses.
3. ‘The Journey to Kurrilwan’. Concerns a Kamilaroi chief named Yoo-nee-a-ra
who tries to reach the setting sun, ‘the present home of their ancestor
Byama [Baiame]’.
4. ‘The Kurrea and the Warrior’. Describes Boobera Lagoon on the Barwon
River. It is inhabited by Kurrea, a snake-like monster who forms channels by
tearing up the ground. A warrior named Toolalla tries to kill him.
5. ‘Thoorkook and Byama’s Sons’. In this story, told on the Clarence River,
NSW, Byama (Baiame) takes the form of two brothers. They are killed by a man
called Thoorkook, but reappear as kangaroos.
6. ‘The Wareenggary and Karambal’. In this story, also told on the Clarence
River, NSW, the Wareenggarry are seven sisters who formed the springs at the
heads of the rivers before going into the sky where they became the
Pleiades.
7. ‘The Hereafter’. This story concerns Mount Coolangatta near the mouth of
the Shoalhaven River on the NSW South Coast. It describes the departure of
the soul of a deceased person and subsequent adventures in the afterlife.
Mathews republished the article verbatim as a small book titled Folklore of
the Australian Aborigines (1899).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Raminyerar
2. Kamilaroi
3. Wiradjuri
4. Bunjellung
5. Koombanggary
6. Thurrawal
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Hawkesbury River
2. Encounter Bay SA
3. Port Lincoln SA
4. Spencers Gulf SA
5. Murchison River
6. Barwon River
7. Namoi River
8. Castlereagh River
9. Macquarie River
10. Lachlan River
11. Murrumbidgee River
12. Great Dividing Range
13. Clarence River
14. Macleay River
15. Manning River
16. Hunter River
17. Shoalhaven River
18. Botany Bay
19. Mehi River
20. Weir River
21. Hastings River
22. Macleay River
23. Coolangatta homestead
24. Gan-man-gang (island near the entrance of Lake Illawarra - the canoe
used by the native bear in 'Arrival of the Thurruwal Tribe'.
INFORMANTS
1. 'my native informants' (70).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
Not applicable.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Folklore of the Australian Aborigines (1899)
Reference Type: Book
Record Number: 72
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1899
Title: Folklore of the Australian Aborigines
City: Sydney
Publisher: Hennessey, Harper and Company
Number of Pages: 35
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: As Mathews states in his preface, this 35 page booklet is
an exact replication of the article 'Folklore of the Australian Aborigines'
(1898), published in Science of Man. See the 1898 abstract for precis.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kamilaroi
2. Wiradjuri
3. Bunjellung
4. Koombanggary
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Botany Bay
2. Barwon River
3. Namoi River
4. Castlereagh River
5. Macquarie River
6. Macintyre River
7. Mehi River
8. Weir River
9. Manning River
10. Hastings River
11. Macleay River
12. Clarence River
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. States that this work is based on articles contributed to Science of Man
(preface).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Folklore of the Australian Aborigines', Science of Man, (1898)
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: 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: 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: 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: 175
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1906
Title: The Totemistic System in Australia
Journal: American Antiquarian
Volume: 28
Pages: 140-47
Keywords: Kinship and marriage
Reproduction - conception
Stories & motifs
Abstract: A note at the top of this paper reads 'Second Article'. A
footnote establishes that it is a direct continuation of Mathews' previous
contribution to American Antiquarian 'Sociology of Aboriginal Tribes in
Australia' (1906). The paper continues the discussion of the Warramonga
people of the Northern Territory and their marriage system. This information
was gained 'from capable and reliable men who reside in that part of the
country'. Mathews includes a table showing section names and legitimate
marriage partners then goes on to explain totems in a way that is highly
attuned to the influence of environment and locality. Connections are drawn
between kinship and mythology. Mathews writes that '[i]n the course of many
generations all the camping places, waterholes, large rocks, springs, hills,
trees and remarkable objects' in an area of country 'would become saturated,
so to speak, with spirits of all sorts'. He explains how the exact location
of 'every one of these notable ancestral spots has been handed down by oral
tradition to all the present natives, who give a poetical and much
embellished account of the doings of their ancestors, largely intermixed
with superstition'. Mathews claimed that Aborigines 'are quite ignorant of
the natural facts of procreation', believing that conception is independent
of sexual intercourse. 'When a woman for the first time feels the movements
of the child in the womb, commonly called by us 'quickening,' she takes
particular notice of the spot where it occurred and reports it to the people
present'. At this moment it is assumed 'that the spirit or soul of some
deceased progenitor has just at that moment entered the woman's body'. When
the child is born it receives the totemic name of the 'mythical ancestor'
belonging to that locality. The article concludes with a denunciation of
Mathews' rivals. W. Baldwin Spencer and F. J. Gillen are chided for
publishing a table showing the eight divisions of the Warramonga tribe in a
way that is 'nothing more than an incongruous jumble'. A. W. Howitt, in his
book The Native Tribes of South-East Australia, reveals 'that he is
unacquainted with even the elements of Australian sociology'. Howitt
responded to these criticisms in an article titled 'The Native Tribes of
Southeast Australia' (1908), published in volume 30 of American Antiquarian.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kamilaroi
2. Kurnu
3. Warramonga
4. Wombaia
INFORMANTS
1. 'capable and reliable men who reside in that part of the country' (142).
2. 'my correspondents' (142).
3. 'thoroughly reliable correspondents' (147).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. 'my correspondents' (142).
2. 'thoroughly reliable correspondents' (147).
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Various articles on Aboriginal sociology (140).
2. 'several articles on the sociology of the aborigines of Australia, which
have been published in various scientiflc [sic] journals in Australia,
America and Europe' (146).
3. A map 'showing the boundaries of tribes with two divisions, those with
four and those with eight … Such a map had never been attempted before'
(147).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Sociology of Some Australian Tribes' (1909)
'Sociology of Aboriginal Tribes in Australia' (1905)
'The Totemistic System in Australia' (1906)
Reference Type: Book**
Record Number: 117
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales
City: Sydney
Publisher: Government Printer of New South Wales
Number of Pages: 40
Keywords: Avenging
Ceremonies - initiation
Ceremonial objects - Bullroarers
Fishing - fish weirs
Music - vocal
Rock art
Sand and ground designs
Stories & motifs
Technology - implements/tools
Tree carvings
Weapons
Abstract: This is a forty-page booklet aimed at a general audience.
It was published by the New South Wales Government Printer and in the main
it replicates material covered in earlier publications. The text is
organised under eleven headings. 'Sociology of the Ngeumba Tribe' describes
the kinship and marriage customs of the Ngeumba people who live in the
vicinity of Brewarrina in northwest New South Wales. Mathews describes how
the communities is organised into moieties and sections. He also describes
the 'blood' and 'shade' divisions which also influence betrothals. He had
previously written about this in Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes
of New South Wales and Victoria (1905) and other publications. The section
headed 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes' replicates the account of the male
initiation ceremony at 'Tallwood' in 1895. Mathews had visited the site of
this ceremony and written about it in 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes'
(1896). Much of the text here replicates the earlier article, however the
two illustrations are new. They consist of a map of the bora encampment and
a plate showing 54 tree carvings and ground designs […]. The carvings and
designs are described in explanatory notes. The section titled 'Aboriginal
Weapons, & c.' describes 35 artifacts used by the Kutthung of Port Stephens
and adjacent tribes. The spears, shields, boomerangs, etc. are illustrated
in two photographic plates which were supplied by Mathews' friend W. J.
Enright who had previously reproduced them in articles published by the
Royal Society of New South Wales. Sections titled 'Aboriginal Rock
Paintings' and 'Aboriginal Rock Carvings' contain illustrations and
descriptions of rock art sites from the Sydney region. Most, if not all, had
previously been described in Mathews' earlier rock art publications. A
section titled 'The Yaroma: a Legend' recounts a story concerning a large
creature capable of eating whole men. This is followed by a section headed
'Pirrimbir, or Avenging Expedition'. Mathews has previously written on these
subjects in Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales
and Victoria (1905). In 'Australian Folk-tales' (1909) he revealed that the
Yaroma story was told by the Jirringan (Dyirringan) tribe. The section
titled 'Bull-roarers used by the Aborigines' describes the sacred
instruments used at initiations. The text as well as the illustrative plate
is duplicated from Mathews' article 'Bullroarers used by the Australian
Aborigines' (1897). The section titled 'Aboriginal Songs at Initiation
Ceremonies' gives the lyrics and musical notation of 'certain sacred songs'
from the South Coast of New South Wales. Mathews had previously published
this material in 'The Thoorga Language' (1901-02). The section titled 'Some
Curious Beliefs' recounts various beliefs concerning animals and the
afterlife. Mathews also describes a practice in which the shriveled hand of
a deceased person is carried as a charm against evil. The final section of
the booklet is titled 'The Aboriginal Fisheries at Brewarrina'. This
description of the Aboriginal weirs on the Barwon River includes a map and a
photograph of the site. All were previously published in 'The Aboriginal
Fisheries at Brewarrina' (1903).
Notes: TRIBES
1. Nguemba
2. Wongaibon
3. Kurnu
4. Kamilaroi
5. Pikumbil
6. Yualeai
7. Shoalhaven tribes
8. Wiradjuri
9. Kutthung
10. Thoorga
11. Wiradthuri
12. Parnkalla
13. Dyirringan
14. Nimbaldi
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Brewarrina
2. Darling River
3. Bogan River
4. Nyngan
5. Cobar
6. Byrock
7. Mulga Creek
8. Tallwood QLD
9. Count of Carnarvon QLD
10. Redbank Creek QLD
11. Weir River QLD
12. Goondiwindi QLD
13. Welltown QLD
14. Kunopia QLD
15. Meroc QLD
16. St. George QLD
17. Moogan Mungindi QLD
18. Gundabloui QLD
19. Shoalhaven River
20. Manning River
21. Gulf of Carpentaria
22. Chasm Island
23. Port Jackson
24. Parish of Wareng
25. County of Hunter
26. Parish of Macdonald
27. Tollagong
28. Macdonald River
29. Botany Bay
30. Wisemans Ferry
31. Parramatta'
32. Parish of Frederick
33. Mangrove Creek
34. Hawkesbury River
35. Bantry Bay
36. Manly Cove
37. Peats Ferry Road
38. Narooma
39. County of Dampier
40. Adelaide SA
41. Port Lincoln SA
42. Macquarie River
43. Bogan River
44. Culgoa River
45. Clarence River
46. Richmond River
47. Bulli
INFORMANTS
1. 'my young friend Mr. W. J. Enright' (see 'other notes') (19).
2. 'two old aboriginals' (27).
3. Mr. W. W. Froggart (?), who 'courteously lent' Mathews a bullroarer (31).
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr. W. J. Enright
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Drawing - Plan of Bora Camp (6).
2. Drawing - Tree Carvings and Ground Drawings at Bora Camp (9).
3. Plate (photograph?) - Aboriginal Weapons (20). Plate supplied by Mr. W.
J. Enright (20).
4. Plate (photograph?) - Aboriginal Weapons (22). Plate supplied by Mr. W.
J. Enright (22).
5. Drawing - Aboriginal Rock Carvings (25).
6. Drawing - Plan of the Ngunnhu or Native Fish Traps in the Darling River
at Brewarrina (39).
7. Photograph - Photographic View of the Ngunnhu or Native Fish Traps in the
Darling River at Brewarrina (40).
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. Mathews refers collectively to his articles published by Royal Society of
New South Wales, Geographical Society of Queensland, Royal Society of
Victoria, Anthropological Institute of Great Britain, and Victoria
Institute, London (3).
2. 'Ethnological Notes of the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (3).
3. 'Sociology of some Australian Tribes' and 'Ethnological Notes of the
Aboriginal Tribes of Queensland' (5).
4. Descriptions of Kamilaroi Bora published by Royal Society of New South
Wales, Anthropological Institute of Great Britain, Royal Society of Victoria
(18).
5. Articles on Bunan and Keeparra ceremonies (18).
6. Burbung of Wiradjuri (18).
7. Several articles in different journals dealing with initiation ceremonies
of 'all the native tribes of New South Wales' (18).
8. Avenging parties (29).
9. Paper on Bunan (32).
10. Article to Anthropological Society of Washington 1896 - Bunan ceremony
and songs (33).
11. Article to Royal Society of New South Wales on preparatory initiation
rite and songs (33).
12. Work on songs (33).
CROSS-REFERENCE
'Australian Folk-tales' (1909) indicates that the Yarroma story was told by
the Jirringan (Dyirringan) tribe.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
'Ethnological Notes of the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1904 & 1905)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 197
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: Notes on the Australian Aborigines
Journal: American Antiquarian
Volume: 29
Pages: 149-52
Keywords: Baiame - stories and motifs
Kinship and marriage
Stories & motifs
Abstract: This is a brief article composed of three sections. The
first describes a belief, current on the New South Wales South Coast, that
the difference between the human sexes was created by a lizard. Mathews
claims that lizards played a similar role in other parts of Australia. The
second part is headed 'Belief Concerning Baiamai'. Mathews gives historical
evidence to suggest that Baiamai (Baiame) was known prior to European
contact, thus rebutting the view that he appeared only with the arrival of
missionaries in New South Wales. The third section consists of a myth titled
'The Wallaroo and the Willy-Wagtail'. Mathews does not name the place of
origin of the story here, but it is substantially the same as that published
in Folk-Lore in 1909 ('The Wallaroo and the Willy-Wagtail: A Queensland
Folk-Tale'). It therefore originates from the Upper Condamine River in
Queensland.
Notes: TRIBES
Not applicable.
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Different places between Sydney and Cape Howe
2. Southeast coast of New South Wales
3. Adelaide
4. Port Lincoln
5. Lake Eyre
6. 'Goundibloui' ['Gundabloui']
7. Wellington
8. Jugiong district
9. Molong
10. Cowra
11. Burrowa
INFORMANTS
1. Andy, 'a native of the Jugiong district', is cited. He was mentioned by
James Manning in 1882.
2. 'old natives between Sydney and Cape Howe'
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'Aboriginal Bora held at Gundabloui in 1894' (1894)
2. 'The Burbung of the Wiradthuri Tribes' (1896)
3. 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1904)
4 Folklore of the Australian Aborigines (1899)
5. 'The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales' (1904)
CROSS REFERENCES
'Aboriginal Bora held at Gundabloui in 1894' (1894)
'The Wallaroo and the Willy-Wagtail: A Queensland Folk-Tale' (1909)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 198
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1907
Title: Folklore of some Aboriginal Tribes of Victoria
Journal: American Antiquarian
Volume: 29
Pages: 44-48
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: This article refers to four Aboriginal myths originating
from Victoria. They supplement folklore published 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]). Informants are not named. Nor are the locations from which
the legends were collected. The four stories are titled: 'How Snakes became
Poisonous'; 'Ngurrau, the Turkey Buzzard'; 'Dyirri-Dyirritch, the Willy
Wagtail'; and 'Grapkill, a Large Hawk'. The latter story is mentioned by
name only, since Mathews admits to having lost the notes he made concerning
it. He states that none of these stories have been previously published.
Notes: TRIBES
Not applicable.
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Material pertaining to the north-western districts of Victoria.
2. Swan Hill
INFORMANTS
Nil.
CORRESPONDENTS
Nil.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. In 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1904) he gave abridgements of some Victorian tales. He now
submits some fresh ones.
CROSS REFERENCES
In 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South Wales and
Victoria' (1904) he gave abridgements of some Victorian tales. He now
submits some fresh ones.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 199
Author: Mathews, R. H. [attrib.]
Year: 1907
Title: A Giant in a Cave—An Australian Legend
Journal: American Antiquarian
Volume: 29
Pages: 29-31
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: No by-line appears on this publication, but a citation in a
footnote stating that an 'abstract' of the same legend appeared in the
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society in 1904 reveals that
Mathews is the author. The publication referred to is 'The Native Tribes of
Victoria: Their Languages and Customs' (1904). The story is attributed to
the Girriwurru tribe but gives no further details about informants or place
of origin. However, various western Victorian locations mentioned in the
story confirm details given in the 1904 publication-that the story came from
'old aborigines of the Hopkins and Eumeralla rivers in western Victoria'.
The story concerns a giant named Murkupang who kills the grandchildren of
his mother-in-law. With two young warriors she chases him, and during the
journey various landforms are created. Eventually Murkupang is killed and
his spirit became the mopoke.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Girriwurru tribe
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Cave on the bank of the Hopkins river in the vicinity of Maroona
2. Mount William
3. Moorabool
4. Kirks Mountain
5. Mount Ararat
6. Wickcliffe
7. Hexham
8. Mount Shadwell
9. Flat-top Hill
10. Ngurit or Blacks Mountain
INFORMANTS
1. Not mentioned but see cross reference.
CORRESPONDENTS
Nil.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'The Native Tribes of Victoria: Their Languages and Customs' (1904)
CROSS REFERENCES
'The following stories were told me by some old aborigines of the Hopkins
and Eumeralla rivers in western Victoria and as I have never seen them in
print, they are included in this paper.' 'The Native Tribes of Victoria:
Their Languages and Customs' (1904), p. 66.
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 143
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1908
Title: Some Mythology of the Gundungurra Tribe, New South Wales
Journal: Zeitschrift für Ethnologie
Volume: 40
Pages: 203-06
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: In this article Mathews gives his most substantial
documentation of a single Aboriginal legend. The story is traditional to the
Gundungurra people of New South Wales whose territory 'includes Burragorang,
Katoomba, Picton, Berrima, Taralga and Goulburn'. Mathews states that the
Gundungurra, in common with the Thurrawal and Thoorga tribes, practise the
same form of male initiation which he described in his publication 'The
Bunan Ceremony of New South Wales' (1896). The story related in this article
was 'obtained personally from the remnants of the Gundungurra tribe now
residing at Burragorang on the Wollondilly River'. It is a creation story,
describing the formation of major rivers, mountains, caves and other
landmarks in the southern Blue Mountains. The story has two protagonists:
Gurangatch and Mirragan. Gurangatch, whose form is 'partly fish and partly
reptile', peacefully occupies a lagoon until Mirragan, a marsupial cat or
quoll, attempts to spear him. Eventually Gurangatch is forced to flee his
attacker. In so doing he 'commenced tearing up the ground along the present
valley of the Wollondilly, causing the water in the lagoon to flow after him
and bear him along'. A great chase occurs in which landforms are constantly
being created. Rich in topographical detail, the story forms a verbal map of
a large part of Gundungurra territory.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Gundungurra
2. Thurrawal
3. Thoorga
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Burragorang
2. Katoomba
3. Picton
4. Berrima
5. Taralga
6. Goulburn
7. Wollondilly River
8. Waterhole called Mur-rou'gal
9. Rocky Waterhole
10. Guinecor River
11. Jocks Creek
12. Wom-bee-ang or Whambeyan [Wombeyan] Caves
13. Slipper Rock or Woong'-ga-ree
14. Billa'-goo'la Creek or Black Hollow
15. Ked-oom'ba Creek [Katoomba]
16. Reedy Creek
17. Coxs River
18. Mee'-oo-wun Mountain [Mou-in]
19. Karrangath Waterhole [Konangoroo]
20. Harrys Creek
21. Min-noo-mur [Jenolan Caves]
22. Wan-dak-ma-lai [Duckmulloy]
23. Holes in the Wollondilly said to be Gurangatch's resting places:
Doogalool, Gungga'look, Woonggaree, Goo-rit, Mullindee, Boonbaal and
Gurrabulla.
24. Holes in the Coxs River said to be Gurangatch's resting places:
Gaung-gaung, Junba, Billa'goola, Karrangatta.
INFORMANTS
1. 'the remnants of the Gundungurra tribe, now residing at Burragorang on
the Wollondilly river' (203).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 1896. Bunan ceremony (403).
2. 1901. Elementary grammar of the Gundungurra language (403).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 179
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1908
Title: Folk-Tales of the Aborigines of New South Wales
Journal: Folk-Lore
Issue: 19
Pages: 224-27 & 303-08
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: In this article Mathews relates nine Aboriginal legends
from six tribal groups, all from inland areas of New South Wales. The
stories are: 'Why Fishes Inhabit the Water' (Kamilaroi Tribe); 'Why the Owl
has Large Eyes' (Wirraidyuri Tribe); 'How the Nankeen makes the Reeds grow'
(Yitha-yitha Tribe); 'Origin of the Bar in the Murrumbidgee River at
Balranald' (Wathi-wathi Tribe); 'A Woman's Waistbelt a Cure for Headache'
(Kamilaroi Tribe); 'How the Kamilaroi acquired Fire' (Kamilaroi Tribe); 'The
Emu and the Crow' (Burranbinga Tribe); 'How the Boolaboolka Lake was Formed'
(Mailpurlgu Tribe) and 'The Native Cat and the Fishermen' (Mailpurlgu
Tribe). Mathews says that all the stories 'have been obtained by me
personally from old natives…in different parts of New South Wales'. He also
notes that he has a considerable number of legends in manuscript form that
await publication.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Kamilaroi
2. Wirraidyuri
3. Yitha-yitha
4. Wathi-wathi
5. Burranbinga
6. Mailpurlgu
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Barwan (Barwon) River
2. Murrumbidgee River
3. Balranald
4. Bar across the bank of the river called Bangonjee-butthu
5. Lake Boolaboolka in the County of Livingstone, NSW
6. Hole in the bank of the Darling River, 20 miles above the site of
Menindee - close to Albemarle Station.
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'In 1899 I published seven aboriginal stories, and in 1904 a number of
myths and traditions current among the natives of New South Wales and
Victoria.' (224) IE Folklore of the Australian Aborigines (1899).
2. In 1904 published 'a number of myths and traditions' from NSW and
Victoria. (224) IE 'Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal Tribes of New South
Wales and Victoria' (1904)
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 178
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1909
Title: Folklore Notes from Western Australia
Journal: Folk-Lore
Issue: 20
Pages: 340-42
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: This brief article recounts seven Western Australian
legends that were collected for Mathews by Mr Thomas Muir JP of 'Deeside
Station' who had known the country between Perth and Esperance Bay since
1844. During this time he had employed many Aboriginal workers. Muir was
therefore most familiar with the southeastern parts of Western Australia,
but one of these stories originates from the Kimberley. The legends have the
following titles: 'Evil Spirits'; 'How Fresh Water was first Obtained';
'Bird Myth'; 'The White-topped Rocks, near Cape Chatham'; 'The Making of
Mount Johnston and other Hills'; 'The Origin of Fire'; and 'Why Lakes are
Salt'. No indigenous informants are named and only with the last story,
attributed to the 'natives of the Kimberley district', is there reference to
a particular tribal group. Five of these legends and other data were also
published in 'Notes on some Tribes of Western Australia' (1909-10).
Notes: TRIBES
1. 'natives of the Kimberley district' (243)
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Albany
2. Blackwood River
3. Mount Barker
4. Esperance Bay
5. Perth
6. Cape Chatham
7. Mount Johnston
8. Kimberley District
9. Sturt Creek
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
1. Mr Thomas Muir JP of Deeside Station who 'has known the country between
Perth and Esperence Bay since 1844...' (340)
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
Nil.
CROSS REFERENCES
Five of these legends and some other data were also published in 'Notes on
Some Tribes of Western Australia' (1910).
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 180
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1909
Title: Australian Folk-Tales
Journal: Folk-Lore
Issue: 20
Pages: 485-87
Keywords: Stories & motifs
Abstract: This short article gives account of two Aboriginal legends.
The first comes from the Jirringan (which Mathews also spelled as
Dyirringan) tribe of the New South Wales South Coast. Told to Mathews by an
informant known as Jerry, it concerns the Yarroma, large hairy men who are
found in pairs and stand back to back so they can look in every direction.
They use different ruses to catch and devour men. The second story was told
to Mathews by Jimmy Nerang whom he met in 1895 at the initiation ceremony in
'Tallwood', described in 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes' (1896). The
story is known among Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Wailwan and other communities.
Titled 'The Wahwee', it concerns a 'serpent-like monster' who lives in deep
waterholes. Clever men can approach him […]. Mathews explains that this 'is
how new songs and corroborees are obtained'.
Notes: TRIBES
1. Jirringan tribe
2. Kamilaroi
3. Wiradjuri
4. Weilwan
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. 'Tallwood' Station
2. Habitat of the Jirringan tribe, ie Southeast Coast of New South Wales
(see cross-reference).
INFORMANTS
1. An 'old blackfellow whom the white people called 'Jerry'.' He spoke the
Jirringan language.
2. Jimmy Nerang who Mathews met at the Tallwood bora in 1895 (485).
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
REFERENCE TO OWN WORK
1. 'Languages of Some Native Tribes of Queensland, New South Wales and
Victoria' (1902).
2. 'The Bora of the Kamilaroi Tribes' (1896).
3. 'The Burbung of the Wiradthuri Tribes' (1896). Contains a drawing of
Wahwee.
4. Says: 'The two tales have, since their despatch to Folk-Lore, have been
printed in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South
Wales.') I cannot locate this reference. However Notes on the Aborigines of
New South Wales (1907) gives the Yarroma legend.
CROSS-REFERENCES
For country of the Jirringan people: see 'Languages of Some Native Tribes of
Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria' (1902), pp.160-7: 'The Dyirringan
Language' is spoken on the southeast coast of NSW.
Author Address:
Bibliographical details checked - MT
Reference Type: Journal Article
Record Number: 181
Author: Mathews, R. H.
Year: 1909
Title: The Wallaroo and the Willy-Wagtail: A Queensland Folk-Tale
Journal: Folk-Lore
Volume: 20
Pages: 214-16
Keywords: Kinship and marriage
Stories & motifs
Abstract: This two-and-a-half page story was personally collected by
Mathews from Aboriginal people near the upper Condamine River in Queensland.
It concerns an old, infirm wallaroo who gains the sympathy of passersby and
then kills them with his boomerang. Eventually he is killed by the willy
wagtail who cunningly outwits him. By way of reward the willy wagtail
becomes a chief man and acquires four young wives. The elders decide that in
future, no man when hunting should travel alone. The story includes some
interesting ethnographic detail including the section names of the
characters.
Notes: TRIBES
1. People near the Upper Condamine River, Queensland
LOCATIONS MENTIONED
1. Upper Condamine River, QLD
INFORMANTS
Not applicable.
CORRESPONDENTS
Not applicable.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nil.
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.