Journals of Australian Explorations Part 23

VOCABULARY OF THE ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE AT NICKOL BAY.

BY MR. P. WALCOTT.

COLUMN 1: ENGLISH.

COLUMN 2: ABORIGINAL.

Emu : Galiberie.

Kangaroo : Peckoora.

Kangaroo (Rock) : Noordee.

Barbed spear : Bilara.

Common spear : Wera Wera.

Foot : Jinna.

Sleep : Gnaree.

Water : Baba.

Sit down : Barnee Boongoo.

Come here : Gokie.

Eastern tribes : Kakardi.

Hair of head : Knuggnura.

Twine : Bingooro.

Nose : Moola.

Tongue : Talee.

c.o.c.kle (unio) : Yoondo.

Ears : Kulka.

Scars on the arms, etc. : Waarbungabo.

Red ochre or wilgee : Marder.

Sand : Narnoo.

Bean (scarlet runner) : Koordala.

Toe nail : Mindee.

Oyster (rock) : Jibboor.

Oyster (pearl) : Weerdee.

Gra.s.s : Warabo.

Fis.h.i.+ng net : Takaroo.

Fetch or bring : Takora.

Acacia : Baragoon.

Breadfruit tree : Tangoola.

Gourd or calabash : Guabooraam.

Firewood : Tamara.

Granite rock : Caragnoo.

Come : Gokee.

Go : Wakkie.

Cowrie or Cypraea : Weelungooroo.

Sun : Yanda.

Biscuit : Mardomurrie.

Sea s.h.a.g : Toorna.

Native dog : w.a.n.ga.

Vomit : Kalkalubata.

Knife : Chumberrie.

Horse : Gnoormiee.

Sponge : Banga.

Axe : Carama.

Black wattle : Eringgna.

Snake : Walee.

Tobacco : Gaanaree.

Convolvulus : Yaabin.

Scarlet trefoil : Beeban.

Hungry : Kamoongoo.

Knee : Manboor.

s.h.i.+n : Kojaee.

Thigh : Woolagallu.

Eyelash : Gneearee.

Forehead : Wara.

Lip : Walee.

Knuckles : Munjee.

Elbow : Yarna Mangoola.

Big toe : Guangnaree.

Seaweed : Binda.

Smoke : Choochoo.

Ribs : Boonggna.

Fly : Boroo.

Clouds : Yoonggnoo.

Rain : Bandaroo.

Scoop sh.e.l.l : Bera.

Iron : Tanga Tanga.

Boat : Kajuree.

Sneeze : Kanjeerneo.

Sugar : Kungknara.

NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION.

1855 TO 1856.

ORIGIN OF THE EXPEDITION.

The circ.u.mstances which led to the organisation of the Expedition for exploring Northern Australia, and the special objects of the Imperial Government in undertaking it, are best detailed in the following Despatch from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State for the Colonies, to Captain Fitzgerald, Governor of Western Australia:--

The Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the Governor of Western Australia.

Downing Street,

31st August, 1854.

SIR,

You will probably have been rendered aware by the reports of the Parliamentary Debates of last session, and from other sources, that Her Majesty's Government have been long considering the project of despatching an exploring expedition to lay open, if favoured with success, more of the interior of the great Australian Continent than the many energetic but partial attempts. .h.i.therto made have succeeded in developing.

This scheme originated with the Council of the Royal Geographical Society, who corresponded with the Colonial Department on the subject of it during last winter. But it was ultimately considered by Her Majesty's Government that the importance of the subject rendered it more advisable that the expedition should be undertaken under their own superintendence, and as a matter of public concern; and Parliament has now placed at their disposal a sum of 5000 pounds for the purpose, and will undoubtedly give further a.s.sistance should it be requisite.