1989.46.2

Collection type

Object

Description

Notched 'message stick' with incised criss-cross pattern. No explanation given.

Geographical reference

Australia

Oceania > Australia and New Zealand > Australia

South eastern South Australia mouth of Murray River

Cultural groups

Ngarrindjeri

Person

Field collector Alfred William Howitt

PRM source Alfred William Howitt

PRM source Edward Burnett Tylor

Date / Period

Date made: 1883

Date collected

June 1883

Acquisition information

Donated: 1888 Found unentered: 1989

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Process Incised, Process Carved

Dimensions

Length: max 135 mm, Width: max 10 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1989.46.2 Other numbers: 5

Research and responses

This is possibly one of the object mentioned in a letter from Howitt [Howitt 10] of the Tylor papers PRM ms collections Box 12 of June 25 1883:

'Dear Dr Tylor Your letter of the 13th May reminds me that I have not yet sent the turndun which I promised in my last letter. The reason is that I have been waiting until I could get them carefully drawn in order that I may have their versimilitudes for reference. I shall now send the following within the next two days in one or parcels [sic] as I find they may require for travel purposes

(1) Murring Mudthi (bullroarer) used at Mileatom [?] and found [illegible] factory. [insert] The notch at the end represents the gap where the tooth has been knocked out [end insert]

(2) Dieri -- Yuntha (Bullroarer) This was used at the Dieri ceremonies and also by me at those of the Coast Murring

(3) Chepara Message stick I am not able to get an explanation of the marks. It seems probable that the existing blackfellows of the Chepara tribe (on the coast south of Brisbane) have forgotten the meaning. Mr Gibson to whom I am indebted for this stick tells me that his informant states that his father used to make these sticks but that he only knew of the meaning of the marks.

(4) Dieri message token of Emu feathers. The messenger carries this and delivers the message by word of mouth

(5) Narrinyeri message stick No explanation can be given of the marks. Narringyeri tribe is at the Murray River mouth

(6) Woi-worung message stick. the marks are said not to have had any meaning beyond being connected in the messengers mind with his message. Woi-worung was the name of the tribe living above Melbourne.

(7) Message stick used on the Diamantina River [insert] Queensland [end insert] So far as I can learn the marks are the enumeration of men who are invited to attend the details being given by the messenger.

(8) Gournd[insert] i [end insert]tch mara message stick. I am told that this stick was sent with the messenger who conveyed the message by word of mouth

(9) Dieri net. This net "yamma" was delivered to the Pinya (armed party) when any person was doomed to death by the Great Council of the Dieri tribe and the offender having been killed, this net was laid upon him as a sign to all concerned. Let me mention here that this Great Council was composed to the principal men of the Dieri tribe. The Heads of Murdus (Totems) Warriors, Orators, Wizards and held its meetings in secret. This great Council was supreme and different from the General Council which consisted of all the initiated men of the tribe.

10. Aaja-dura - Bullroarer. I cannot at present turn up the letter in which my correspondents gave me the name of this example. It was sent to me by the Headman of this tribe which inhabits Yorks Peninsula S.A. in return for a bullroarer which I sent to him. The old man showeed mine to my correspondent with much mystery after sending all the women away from the place

These are all the contributions which I can send you this time but more will follow as soon as I can get them drawn -- I do this because I cannot yet tell whether in the work for which I am gathering materials I may or may not require illustrations of these things. This will not however in any way affect any use to which you may decide to put them. They are yours to do with as you like. If there are any other blackfellows implements which you want I shall be delighted to try and obtain them for you. [AP 05/02/2013]

Associated publications

See 'Notes on Australian Message Sticks and Messengers', by A. W. Howitt, in Journal of the Anthropological Institute, Vol XVIII, 1889, pp. 314-332. (Copy in RDF ). [JC 20 9 2000] Illustrated in black and white (image PRM0001306275555 of 1889.46.2-.8 on display) on page 20 of 'Expanding the Howitt Way: Alfred Howitt in Victoria', by Sandra McComb, in The La Trobe Journal, no. 99 (March 2017), pp 6-23. (Copy in RDF under 1989.46.) Caption (same page): 'Display of some of the message sticks collected by Alfred William Howitt and housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, since 1888 (1989.46.2-.8).' [NC10/5/2017; JC 4 7 2017]

Search terms: Writing, Message-bearer