Field notebook

Page 11 of 44

Transcription - Page 18

Ask Bunjil he does not
come near us but once
when women get Būr-rit
out lagoons then left babies
in the possum rugs then
Bunjil came and saw
baby moving about he catches
the baby up to his nest.
Baby cries all the way.
Women and men run after
him - and father runs
after with his stone tomahawk
but the Bunjil flies off farther,
this was near Benalla.

A bird called Jūnū jūnūt
like a morepoke -
a large mouth - yellow

[next page]

inside is a very true bird.

He came very close to some
people where they were camped
and says "Junū Junū" [??]
Then black fellow thought
wild black fellow were
coming. Then they watched
all night for the wild blacks.
In morning - by and bye
they find it is friend.
He always tells of friend. ----------------

Worngorūk = Djeet gun
Būnjil } = Emu wren
Boroin }
Boroin = dark

Page 11 of 44

Document Details

Date —

Letter From —

Letter To —

Author Howitt, Mr Alfred William

Country Australia

Colony/State —

Holding Institution Museums Victoria

Collection Name Alfred W. Howitt Collection

Registration Number XM 759

Medium Notebook

Region —

Locality —

Summary Belonging to A.W. Howitt. Anthropological notes, from front and back of notebook varied content including notes on language, social organisation and customs and legends. Discusses the Yarra Tribe and groups across eastern Victoria. Includes language notes and diagrams, kin terms, names of people along coast and Victorian group associations with localities. Notes on 'eaglehawk and bunjil'. Possibly information from Barak ''My name is Bairuk - grub of gum tree'. Illustrations of weapons and burial practices. Notes from Paterson's 'The History of New South Wales, from Its First Discovery to the Present Time.'

Physical Description Notebook, black, hard-covered, entries in pencil. Condition: fragile; first section of pages weakly attached. No clasp.