An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1
by
David Collins
Part 14 out of 14
Now-ey A canoe
Beng-al-le A basket
Car-rah-jun A fishing-line
Gnam-mul A sinker [A small stone to sink the line]
Bur-ra A hook
Ke-ba A stone or rock
Bwo-mar A grave
Bow-wan A shadow
Ma-hn A ghost
Wir-roong Scars on the back
Cong-ar-ray Scars on the breast
jee-run A coward
Can-ning A cave
Me-diong A sore [On noticing a hole in any part of
our dress they term it Me-diong]
Ya-goo-na To-day
Bo-ra-ne Yesterday
Par-ry-boo-go To-morrow
Mul-lin-ow-ool In the morning
Jen-ni-be Laughter
Boo-roo-wang An island [This word they applied
to our ships]
Gno-rang A place
E-ring A valley
Boo-do A torch made of reeds
Mi-yal A stranger [This word has reference to sight;
Mi, the eye.]
Ar-rung-a A calm
Moo-roo-bin Woman's milk
Ew-ing Truth
Ca-bahn An egg
Yab-bun Instrumental music
Yoo-long or Cleared ground for public ceremonies
Yoo-lahng
ADJECTIVES
Bood-jer-re Good
Wee-re Bad
Mur-ray Great
Gnar-rang Small
Coo-rar-re Long
Too-mur-ro Short
Go-jy Rotten
Go-jay-by
Bin-nice Pregnant
Par-rat-ber-ri Empty
Bo-ruck Full
Pe-mul-gine Dirty
Bar-gat Afraid
Frightened
Ba-diel Ill
Moo-la Sick
Boo-row-a Above or upward
Cad-i Below or under
Bar-bug-gi Lost
War-rang-i Right
Doo-room-i Left
Goo-lar-ra Angry
Yu-ro-ra Passionate
Wo-gul, and Wo-cul One
Yoo-blow-re, and Boo-la Two
Brew-y Three
Mur-ray-too-lo A great many
Gnal-le-a Both
Moo-jel Red
Ta-bo-a White
Gna-na Black
Bool-gi-ga Green
Moo-ton-ore Lame
Yu-roo, and
Yu-roo-gur-ra Hungry
Mo-rem-me Yes
Beall No
Mar-rey Wet
PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY
Ca-ber-ra Head
Gnul-lo Forehead
Mi Eye
Yin-ner-ry Eye-brow
No-gro, or No-gur-ro Nose
Kar-ga Mouth
Wil-ling Lips
Da-ra Teeth
Tal-lang Tongue
Wal-lo Chin
Go-ray Ear
Cad-le-ar Neck
Cad-le-ang Na-bung Breast or Nipple
Yar-rin Beard [This they often singe, and describe it
as a painful operation]
De-war-ra Hair [This is commonly full of vermin, which
I have seen them eat, and change from
one soil (sic) to another.]
Bar-rong Belly
Go-rook Knee
Dar-ra Leg
Ma-no-e Foot
Tam-mir-ra Hand
Ber-rll-le Fingers
Car-rung-un Nail
Bib-be Ribs
Ba-rongle Vein
Pa-di-el Flesh or lean
Bog-gay, or Pog-gay Fat
Tar-rang Arm
0-nur Elbow
Wy-o-man-no Thumb
Dar-ra-gal-lic Fore-finger
Ba-roo-gal-lie Middle or ring'd
Wel-leng-al-lie Little finger
CONSANGUINITY
Eo-ra The name common for the natives
Mu-la A man
Din A woman
Din-al-le-ong Women [One of the few instances I could ever
discover of a plural or dual number]
Gin-al-le-ong
Be-an-na; this they
shorten to
Be-an and
Be-a, and
when in pain,
they exclaim
Be-a-ri A father
Wy-an-na, and Mother
Wy-ang
Go-mang Grandfather
Ba-bun-na Brother
Ma-mun-na Sister
Go-roong A child
We-row-ey A female child
Wong-er-ra A male ditto
Na-bung-ay wui-dal-liez Infant at the breast
[Compounded of Na-bung its breast, and Wai-dal-liez relating to drinking]
Bore-goo-roo Child eight months old
Guy-a-nay-yong An old man
Mau-gohn A wife
Mau-gohn-nal-ly A temporary ditto
Go-rah-gal-long A handsome man
Go-rah-gal-long-
al-le-ong A handsome woman
Ma-lin, Nurkine,
Mud-gin
Gnar-ra-mat-ta A relation [To these I never could affix
precise meanings]
Cow-ul Male of animals
We ring Female of ditto
Do-roon A son
Do-roon-e-nang A daughter
Go-mul A term of friendship
Cam-mar-rade, Terms of affection used by girls
and Ca-mong-al-lay
SPEARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Goong-un A spear with four barbs cut in the wood,
which they do not throw, but strike with
hand to hand
Noo-ro Ca-my A spear with one barb, fastened on
Ca-my A spear with two barbs--This word is
used for spear in general
Bil-larr A spear with one barb, cut from the wood
Wal-lang-al-le-ong A spear armed with pieces of shell
Can-na-diul A spear armed with stones
Ghe-rub-bine A spear without a barb
Doci-ull A short spear
No-roo-gal Ca-my Holes made by a shield
E-lec-mong A shield made of bark
Ar-ra-gong A shield cut out from the solid wood
Moo-ting
Cal-larr Fizgigs
Car-rab-ba Prong of the moo-ting
Dam-moo-ne Prong of the cal-larr.
Woo-dah, Names of clubs.
Can-na-tal-ling,
Doo-win-null,
Can-ni-cull,
Car-ru-wang,
Wo-mur-rang.
Gnal-lung-ul-la,
Tar-ril-ber-re,
Mo-go, Stone hatchet.
We-bat, Handle of ditto.
Wo-mer-ra, Throwing-stick
PRONOUNS, ADVERBS, AND MODE OF ADDRESS
Gni-a, I, or myself
Gnee-ne, You.
Gnee-ne-de, Yours.
Dan-nai, Mine.
Dar-ring-al, His.
Gna-ni, Whose.
Wan, Where.
De, There.
Diam, Here.
Diam o waw? Where are you?
Diam o diam o, Here I am.
Gnalm Chiara, gnahn? What is your name?
Bir-rong, Appertaining.
WINDS
Bow-wan, North.
Bal-gay-al-lang, South.
Boo-roo-wee, East.
Bain-mar-ray, West.
Doo-loo-gal, North-west.
Yare-ba-lahng, South-west.
Go-me-mah, North-east.
Gwar-ra, A high wind
INFLEXIONS OF THE VERBS.
Gnia-na, Sighing.
Bwo-me, Breathing.
Dere-rign-ang, Sneezing.
Car-re-nar-re-bil-le, Coughing.
Yen-no-ra, Walking.
Yen-mow, I will walk or go.
Yenn, Go or walk.
Yen-ma-nia, We will walk or go.
Yen-wor-ro, He is gone.
Yen-nim-me, You are going.
Yen-nool, Relating to walking.
Yen-noong,
Yen-nore-yen,
Yen-nang-allea, Let us both walk.
AI-locy, Stay.
Wo-roo-wo-roo, Go away.
War-re-war-re,
Pat-ta-diow, I have eaten.
Pat-td-die-mi, You have eaten.
Pat-ty, He has eaten.
Pat-ta-bow, I will eat.
Pat-td-baw-me, You will eat, or will you eat?
Pat-ta-ne, They eat.
Wul-da-diow, I have drank.
Wul-da-dic-mi, You have drank.
Nwya jee-ming-a, Give me.
Py-yay, Killed.
Jung-ara py-yay, Killed by dogs.
Par-rat-ben-ni-diow I have emptied.
Py-ya-bow, I will strike or beat.
Py-yee, He did beat.
E-ra-bow, I will throw.
E-ra, Throw you.
E-rail-leiz, Throwing.
Mahn-me-diow. I have taken it.
Mahn-iow, Shall I, or I shall take.
Goo-ra, Sunk.
Ton-ga-bil-lie, Did cry.
Wau-me, Scolding or abusing.
Wau-me-bow I will scold or abuse
Wau-me-diow I have scolded or abused
Wau-me-diang-ha They have scolded or abused
Nang-er-ra He sleeps
Nang-a
Nang-a-bow I will sleep
Nang-a-diow I have slept
Nang-a-diem-me You have slept
Nang-a-bau-me? Will you sleep?
Go-ro-da He snores
Gna-na le-ma She or he breathes
Al-lo-wan He lives or remains
Al-lo-wah Stay here, or sit down
Wal-loo-me-yen-wal-loo? Where are you going?
War-re-me-war-re Where have you been?
Gna-diow You have seen
Gna-diem-me I have seen
Gna-bow I will see
Gna See
Era-mad-jow-in-nia Forced from him
Car-rah-ma Stealing
Wor-ga-wee-na He whistles, or whistling
Goo-lar-ra py-yel-la Snarling with anger
Man-nie mong-alla Surprised
Yare-ba Tired
Pe-to-e Sought for
Man-nie mal-lee He was startled
Nwya-bow-in-nia I will give you
Wan-ye-wan-yi He lies
Ma-row-e He creeps
Bang-a-ja-bun He did paddle
Noy-ga Howling as a dog
Toll Biting
Co-e, Cow-e Cwoi,
Cow-ana Come here
Wad-be Swimming
Bo-gay Diving
Ta-yo-ra, Me-diang-a Severely cold. Me-diang-a is compounded of
Me-diong, a sore
Mul-la-ra Married. Compounded of Mulla, a man
BEASTS
Jung-o Common name
Pat-a-go-rang A large grey kang-oo-roo
Bag-gar-ray Small red ditto
Wal-li-bah Black ditto
Tein-go
Din-go
Wor-re-gal Dog
Boo-roo-min Grey vulpine opossum
Go-ra-go-ro Red ditto
Wob-bin Flying squirrel
Ga-ni-mong Kang-oo-roo rat
Wee-ree-a-min Large fox rat
Wee-ree-am-by
Bo-gul Rat or mouse
Me-rea-gine Spotted rat
BIRDS
Ma-ray-ong Emu
Go-ree-all A parrot
Mul-go A black swan
Car-rang-a bo mur-ray A pelican. When they see this bird over their
heads, they sing the following words:
Yoo-rong-i A ivild duck.
Goad-gang, A wild pigeon
Wir-gan Bird named by us the Friar
Gnoo-roo-me
ta-twa-natwa na-twa--Gno-roo me ta-twa na-twa,
na-twa, tar-ra wow, tar-ra wow*
[* On seeing a shoal of porpoises, they sing while the fish
is above water, Note-le-bre la-la, No-te-le-bre la-la, until
it goes down, when they sing the words No-tee, No-tee, until
it rises again]
Go-gan-ne-gine the Laughing jack-Ass
Po-book Musquito hawk
Wau-gan Crow
Jam-mul jam-mul Common hawk
Gare-a-way White cockatoo
Ca-rate Black ditto
Ur-win-ner-ri-wing Curlew
INSECTS, REPTILES
Mar-rae-gong A spider
Mi-a-nong A fly
Go-ma-go-ma A beetle
Gil-be-nong A grasshopper
Bur-roo-die-ra A butterfly
Go-na-long Caterpillar
Can-nar-ray Centipede
Calm Snake
Po-boo-nang A black ant
* * * * *
PECULIARITIES OF LANGUAGE
To the men when fishing they apply the word Mah-ni; to the women, Mahn.
They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying,
they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e.
The following difference of dialect was observed between the natives at
the Hawkesbury and at Sydney.
COAST INLAND ENGLISH
Ca-ber-ra Co-co Head
De-war-ra Ke-war-ra Hair
Gnul-lo Nar-ran Forehead
Mi Me Eye
Go-ray Ben-ne Ear
Cad-lian Gang-a Neck
Ba-rong Ben-di Belly
Moo-nur-ro Boom-boong Navel
Boong Bay-ley Buttocks
Yen-na-dah Dil-luck Moon
Co-ing Con-do-in Sun
Go-ra Go-ri-ba Hail
Go-gen-ne-gine Go-con-de Laughing jack-ass
* * * * *
WORDS OF A SONG
Mdng-en-ny-wau-yen-go-nah, bar-ri-boo-lah, bar-re-mah. This they begin at
the top of their voices, and continue as long as they can in one breath,
sinking to the lowest note, and then rising again to the highest. The
words are the names of deceased persons.
E-i-ah wan-ge-wah, chian-go, wan-de-go. The words of another song, sung
in the same manner as the preceding, and of the same meaning.
I met with only two or three words which bore a resemblance to any other
language.
The middle head of Port Jackson is named Ca-ba Ca-ba--in Portuguese Caba
signifies a head. Cam-ma-rade, a term of affection used among girls, has
a strong resemblance to the French word Cammerade; and may not some
similitude be traced between the word E-lee-mong, a shield, and the word
Telamon, the name given to the greater Ajax, on account of his being lord
of the seven-fold shield? How these words came into their language must
be a mystery till we have a more intimate knowledge of it than I can
pretend to.
* * * * *
I could have enlarged very much the foregoing account of the natives of
New South Wales; but, both in describing their customs and in detailing
their language, I have chosen to mention only those facts about which,
after much attention and inquiry, I could satisfy my own mind. That they
are ignorant savages cannot be disputed; but I hope they do not in the
foregoing pages appear to be wholly incapable of becoming one day
civilized and useful members of society.
* * * * *
POSTSCRIPT
Since the preceding account was printed, letters have been received from
New South Wales of as late date as the 20th of August 1797. By these it
appears, that his Majesty's ship _Reliance_, in her passage from the Cape
of Good Hope to Port Jackson, met with uncommon bad weather, which kept
her out eleven weeks and one day. About the latitude of 41 degrees S and
77 degrees E longitude, the sea suddenly became violently agitated, and
at last broke on board the ship, staving a boat which was over the stern,
and doing considerable damage to the ship. Captain Waterhouse, however,
landed safely thirty-nine head of black cattle, three mares, and near
sixty sheep.
Information was also received through the same channel, that a ship
called the _Sydney Cove_ had been fitted out for Port Jackson from
Bengal; but springing a leak at sea, she was run ashore on the
southernmost part of the coast of New Holland: seventeen of the crew
attempted to get to Port Jackson in their long-boat, but were driven on
shore, and lost their boat. They then attempted to reach it by land, in
which hazardous undertaking only three of them succeeded, the other either
dying on the route or being killed by the natives. They were eighty days
in performing this journey, and reported that in their way they had found
great quantities of coal. This was afterwards confirmed by the surgeon of
the _Reliance_, who went down to the wreck, and brought specimens of it
back with him, having found immense strata of this useful article. Some
part of the cargo was got on shore and housed where the ship was stranded.
When these letters left the colony, it continued in as flourishing a
state as when the _Britannia_ sailed. May it continue to prosper!
THE END
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