Curio

Aboriginal names and words of the Cammeray Tribe

1884-1907
Manuscript
Am 1 / Folder 1
Presented by Miss Hendy Pooley 1912

“On explaining to Dick my desire to obtain a knowledge of his language and an insight into the manners and customs of his countrymen, he told me at once 'not to ask questions," that "blackfellows don’t like to be cross-questioned," that " black-fellows tell too much gammon " but to look about consequently, by following Dick's advice when visiting his or other encampments in different localities, I secured much information.”* - John F. Mann, Letter to the Editor Sydney Morning Herald June 20, 1900

The Surveyor General Department‘s licensed surveyor, John Frederick Mann (1819-1907) compiled this random list of words based upon information given to him by a Cammeraigal man named Long Dick. The words originate from Long Dick’s tribe- the Cammeraigal people- of Sydney’s North Shore.

This five page document is unusual, as it names the Aboriginal informant- Long Dick. Generally, the recording of Aboriginal language lists and vocabularies are only known by the person who compiled it. This list also features several paragraphs of explanatory notes and translations in English.

* John F. Mann, Letter to the Editor Sydney Morning Herald 22 June, 1900
Transcription, Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14319527?searchTerm=long%20dick

‘…TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD’

By * Transcription Sydney Morning Herald June 22, 1900

‘… I noticed that many words were used in common throughout the country, such as " Murry," or" Murrum," equivalent to our word very, bulk, ormagnitude ; " Baal," or " Bel," a negative ; " Bud-gery," good satisfactory ; and many others. Also, that every prominent resident in a district enjoyed a distinctive nickname. Thus, a tall and thin settler near Lake Macquarie was called " Turra-Brona, "long legs ; a blackbutt tree, "Turramlong ; " a blue gum, " Turrumbrine," on account of their superior height ; and " Turramurra," the name of the highest land between North Sydney and the Hawkesbury River.

"Bidgee” means a flat by a river aide, consequently " Murrumbidgee " means a river of many flats, though each bend of the river possesses a separate distinguishing name, more or less historical or biological, the name often extending to many syllables, and unpronounceable to any but blackfellows.

The name "Kurradubidgee " is thus formed-" Kurker," a mouth ; " kurradue, ' a native companion, a species of crane, with a long beak, flocks of which frequented a flat on the Shoalhaven River near Braidwood.

" Gong " refers to a swamp, as Terragong, Cud-gegong, Wolongong or Tom Thumb's Lagoon (Wo-lon water), Gerringong (swamp located near to), Coolongatta- Wolondilly, water trickling over rocks. Mittagong is altogether misplaced. Its proper position is the Wingecarribee-or bridgee-swamp at the base of the Mittagong Range. The present site was orginally known as " Gibber-gunyah " Creek, that is caves or hollows formed by boulders. " Mill,"to see ; " boug," dead or blind. Thus we get " Millbong " or bang, " Bong-bong," where the course of the stream is lost in a swamp. "Mill-bong Jim" was the name of a notorious blackfellow, blind of one eye, who murdered a family named Gregor at Brisbane in I845.

Names ending in "alla," "arlie," and the like refer mostly to convenient camping places, as " Eum-bialla " in Capartes, " Piaugalla " adjoining Lonee,Rylstone ; " Urangalla " in the Marulan district,and many other places.

" Wy-Wy," or " Woy-Woy," as it is now spelt, is an exclamation, a caution, equivalent to Take care, Look out, Mind yourself. I first heard it used when out wallaby hunting with Long Dick in the Wolombi Ranges I nearly trod upon a snake, when he uttered this exclamation, and dragged me out of danger. The strip of land on the right bank of Brisbane Water River, stretching from the Broadwater to Broken Bay and extending inland to base of rocky hills, was infested with snakes of the most venomous description. Black and other coloured snakes sported about in the shallow swamps and got out of your way when disturbed; but the death-adders, supposed to be the most venomous of all, remained listlessly on the ground, and being much of the same colour as the sandy soil, were objects of great danger,consequently " Wy-Wy " was an exclamation continually uttered by the blacks when visiting this locality-hence the name Woy Woy…’ *

John Frederick Mann’s explanatory notes from Aboriginal names and words of the Cammeray Tribe.

This interpretation of Mann’s notes accompanied his letter to the editor published Sydney Morning Herald June 22, 1900.

Beyond the boundaries

By Melissa Jackson, Indigenous Unit State Library New South Wales

‘Far too often language lists and vocabularies have been recognised by the person who compiled it with the informant, the person who is sharing their culture remaining anonymous. I was so inspired to see that the person who compiled this list gave equal credit to his informant. Further research revealed a newspaper article describing Mann’s interactions with Boio that go beyond the casual chat about the lingo.’