Field notebook

Page 3 of 44

Transcription - Page 9

one man had 3 wives
" "
" " 2 wives
most got one wife. -

would lend wives to friends
wife go to deceased husband
brother [if has children- crossed out]

[Twofold Bay blacks from- crossed out]
[Twofold Bay - crossed out]

when some one stealing (wives)
women would send
a messenger wirrigirri
to call up to fight -
women with women & yam
stick - men with men
with wunkim spear
Kūjerŭng.-

[next page]

ngŭrrŭn-gaeta - head men

[too faint to read] stranger
[too faint to read] and
to [?assemble?] - they all
call him ngŭrrŭn-gaeta.
Ngŭrrŭn-gaeta is like a
governor. __________
[not every - crossed out] Billy Bellary
the father belonging to my
cousin, was ngŭrŭn-gaeta.
Another headman was
Capt. Turnbull at
Mt Macedon others at
Western Port - Billy Lonsdale
Western Port Mr de Villiers

Page 3 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.