Notes by Howitt on Omeo 'tribe' and letter from Bulmer

Transcription - Page 24

21
it is when something has occurred during life
to unsettle them. For instance when Old Candle
died at Snowy River his Mraat knocked about
the camp for some months. And his old woman
declared that he told her he could not get
away as she was holding him, and that
she would continue to do so till she married
Old King Tom. Sometimes pannikans were
thrown about, and flour was scattered about
the camp. And the old woman declared the
ghost gave her a thrashing because she
prevented him from going away. I dare
say the whol [sic] story was invented by the
old woman herself with an eye to King
Tom. But still the Blacks must have thought
it possible for a ghost to come to them or
they would not have believed her.

I have often heard the Blacks declare
that they have seen a ghost. I remember
Kerlip Tom coming home in a great fright
declaring he had seen the ghost of a
woman named Korah wife of Bobby Brown
She was he said on the shore of Lake Bunga
an old haunt of hers during life.
An old man named Ginger died at
Lake Tyers some years ago. He was a
very old man, and his wife was a
very old woman. Having nothing else
to think about, this poor old woman's
mind was fixed on the departed.
She would steal away into the bush
and remain for days by herself. When
she returned she told me she had