Howitt to Fison 5/9/1874

Transcription - Page 2

Mr Curr also asks if we have seen what
Eyre, Grey +c have written about "Cobba
and Cobbitha". This has suggested
that the works of all the Australian
voyagers by land and sea should be
examined. But I dare say you have
done so.

I now proceed to note some things
in your letter
1. I believe the natives have many convertible
terms as for instance (Brabrolung)
myan=wife=rookut
2. new words are often substituted
for instance (Brabrolung) a man named
"Yarn" (water) died - for some time after
his friends called "water" "nobler"
- for it is not proper or lawful to name
the dead. If he had been a great man
the word "yarn" would probably have died out.
3. The most intelligent of the Brabrolung natives
cannot explain such terms as "Ngaribil
Qua-abun" - their meaning I am afraid
has been lost in the change of language
as for instance the term "Dan bun