Field notebook
Transcription - Page 22
and puts it in his bag.
Then if man dies the
Doctor sends Mūng
to tell the man who did it
Dr get present of tomahawk
spear, rugs, +c.
If no doctor the people dig
grave and put the body in ground
and sweep out grave.
and find a little hole.
The male relatives follow
the direction and kill
first man they meet.-
[next page]
cover up body in grave:
The old men say now
when you have killed
a man - don't plant
him - but put him
out - in a log so
that people can see
him.
Then the killed man's
friends find him. ----------
Dead body head up then
[drawing of body] in possum rug with
[in squatting position] possum fine cord.
Her necklace and
tomahawk - kill husband
In [??] if a doctor
not give him any weapons
or he might be the Mūrŭp
had some one.
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.