Mragula was born c.1813 in the Tumut region of NSW. Described by Howitt as a Wolgal informant, Mragula and another Wolgal man, Yibai Malian (Murray Jack), were instrumental in the enactment of the Kuringal ceremony documented by Howitt in 1883. During the ceremony Mrgaula claimed that he had lost some of his ritual powers after having drunk ‘too much hot tea’. As is evidenced by his other name, Singing Johnny, Mragula was a renowned singer and composer of song. One of his compositions, a song describing an attempt to cross a flooded Snowy River in a leaky bark canoe, was said to have been taken up and sung by the Gunaikurnai in Gippsland. Howitt noted the ‘pantomimic’ actions that accompanied the singing of this song as vividly depicting the pushing off of the canoe, paddling into the stream, the discovery of a leak, bailing out water and the hurried return to shore.
Mragula (Singing Johnny)
Found in Transcriptions
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Information from John Bulmer, n.d.Pages 3Registration Number XM98Author Bulmer, Reverend JohnPhysical Description Notes and a table, handwritten, undated. One large sheet folded in half with an additional smaller sheet, six pages. Notes are possibly a letter. Fragile condition, insect damage upper edging.
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Howitt notes on the WolgalRegistration Number hw0185Author —Physical Description — -
Field notebookRegistration Number XM760Author Howitt, Mr Alfred WilliamPhysical Description Notebook, black, hard-covered. 98 sheets, 62 pages. Belonging to A.W. Howitt. Anthropological notes, in pencil and ink, from front and back of notebook. Condition: broken metal clasp; fragile; weakened spine.