Beliefs

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Transcription - Page 26

{Left margin note]

[2nd?] of
See - Section 5
evil ghosts [underlined]

I was told of a Talūngolung man whom I know [crossed out - [who spoke the]
[crossed out - other is in camp by] that as a child [crosssed out - he was] sleeping
in the camp of his parents, he was awakened by the outcries
of his father, and starting up, found him partly out
of the camp on his back, kicking, while his wife held
firmly the shoulders. His father said what while lying
by the fire a 'mrart' came up with a bag and tried to
pull him out of the camp by the foot. He then cried out
and his wife caught hold of him and the mrart vanished.

[Left margin note to top of next paragraph]
Insert at
p - (*)

[Line across page, down RHS, across bottom to note in left margin]
Brewinda in see Chap - p -
Nūndū-mŭys = [2 words crossed out]
below
[??] & to look or catch
eye [mŭn wŭa?] = spear thrower.

[Crossed out - Julaba where I have elsewhere mentioned]
Thus [crossed out - might] [any one?] mrart man [crossed out - ??] [??]] the Kurnai
referred the myth man of our own people. I said that
his "father" brothers murryi (p -) ocassionally visit him
in sleep and communicate to him sings (charms) against
[Jukiren?] and other evils. One charm which he thus learned
and which I have heard him sing to cure pains in the chest -
is as follows " Jūndŭnga Brewinda (1) nŭndŭ-ŭnja ūgarinda
mri mŭrriwŭnda. or freely have liked "Oh Jŭnding! & believes
Brewinda has hooked me with the eye of his throwing stick" (2)
and then such charm also communicated to
Juliba & heard him using at the Jeraeil (see p.)
to alleviate the internal pains of his old wife.

(Quote this).

[Left margin note]
(1) see p -
(2) [??] [??]
like the frayed fibres of
stringy bark which the
medicine man & continue
prefers to [??] as the cause of disease.

[Line across page]

[Left margin note]
Kurnai

As to a [well?] [??] Mrart the ([feeling?];
[crossed out - Another of the Kurnai] Tubaba had one of the [??] since
called Būck. (see p -) which he much valued. [Crossed out - because]
[crossed out - but found it] He said that when gathering wild cattle for a settler
near the Mitchell River he dreamed one night that two
"mrarts" were standing by his fire. They were about to speak to
him or he to them (I now forget which) when he woke. May be
vanished but in looking at the spot where they understood to be
"Buck" [??]

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Document Details

Date
Letter From
Letter To
Author Howitt, Mr Alfred William
Country Australia
Colony/State Victoria
Holding Institution Museums Victoria
Collection Name Alfred W. Howitt Collection
Registration Number XM 593
Medium Notes
Region
Locality
Summary The content of the notes relate largely to the legends, religion, beliefs and customs for a number of groups in southeastern Australia. Beliefs and various legends including a number related to the earth and sky; and to Bunjil (Eaglehawk). A.W. Howitt also recounts a story by Berak [William Barak] who visited his sick son in Melbourne.
Physical Description Notes, incomplete, handwritten, undated. 25 foolscap sheets, 25 pages, some with slips of paper attached. Text 'struck through' with vertical pencilled lines. Condition: some pages with tattered edges.