Field notebook
Transcription - Page 48
large
extend arms in
semi circle from shoulders
palm in wards and
fingers a little bent.
_______________
Bunjil
1st sign = man by beard
2nd sign large
3rd point to clouds ------
_______________________
little - make a
Small circle with
fingers ----------
[next page]
halfway [underlined] - clasp
the one hand with
thumb & fingers of
other at end of fingers
and [??] of
palm. ---------
_________________________
Kūmmell a yellow snake
with marks poisonous-------
hold out index finger
then make a zigzag [trace?]
armwards---------
this is any snake
________________________
Iguana - place closed thumb
and fingers of each hand
together and separate them
[??] do this twice
then move right hand down
besides the body + take
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.