APPENDIX XII—LANGUAGE

In giving an account of an unwritten language many difficulties occur. For things cognizable by the external senses, names may be easily procured; but not so for those which depend on action, or address themselves only to the mind: for instance, a spear was an object both visible and tangible, and a name for it was easily obtained; but the use of it went through a number of variations and inflexions, which it was extremely difficult to ascertain; indeed I never could, with any degree of certainty fix the infinitive mood of any one of their verbs. The following sketch is therefore very limited, though, as far as it does proceed, the reader may be assured of its accuracy.

Their language is extremely grateful to the ear, being in many instances expressive and sonorous. It certainly has no analogy with any other known language (at least so far as my knowledge of any other language extends), one or two instances excepted, which will be noticed in the specimen. The dialect spoken by the natives at Sydney not only differs entirely from that left us by Captain Cook of the people with whom he had intercourse to the northward (about Endeavour river) but also from that spoken by those natives who lived at Port Stephens, and to the southward of Botany Bay (about Adventure Bay), as well as on the banks of the Hawkesbury. We often heard, that people from the northward had been met with, who could not be exactly understood by our friends; but this is not so wonderful as that people living at the distance of only fifty or sixty miles should call the sun and moon by different names; such, however, was the fact. In an excursion to the banks of the Hawkesbury, accompanied by two Sydney natives, we first discovered this difference; but our companions conversed with the river natives without any apparent difficulty, each understanding or comprehending the other.

We have often remarked a sensible difference on hearing the same word sounded by two people; and, in fact, they have been observed sometimes to differ from themselves, substituting often the letter b for p, and g for c, and vice versa. In their alphabet they have neither s nor v; and some of their letters would require a new character to ascertain them precisely.

What follows is offered only as a specimen, not as a perfect vocabulary of their language.

NEW SOUTH WALES ENGLISH ———————- ———-

NAMES CHIEFLY OF OBJECTS OF SENSE

Co-ing The sun Yen-na-dah The moon Bir-rong A star Mo-loo-mo-long The Pleiades War-re-wull The Milky Way Ca-ra-go-ro A cloud Boo-do-en-ong general name Cal-gal-le-on The Magellanic the greater clouds Gnar-rang-al-le-on the lesser Tu-ru-p A star falling Co-ing bi-bo-ba Sun-rising Bour-ra The sky Co-ing bur-re-goo-lah Sun-setting Gnoo-wing Night Carn-mar-roo Tar-re-ber-re Day Gwe-yong Fire Cad-jee Smoke Gil-le A spark Per-mul Earth Ta-go-ra Cold Yoo-roo-ga Heat Men-nie-no-long Dew Pan-na, and Wal-lan Rain Ba-do Water Chi-a-ra Name Car-rig-er-rang The sea Go-nie A hut 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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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