Karawa (NT)

LocationOn the rocky inland dissected plateau country from Foelsche River and Robinson River Homestead south to headwaters of Robinson River and to Seigalls Creek Homestead; east to Wollogorang and to Westmoreland outstation only; northward only to edge of coastal plain about 40 miles (65 km.) inland from the sea; Calvert Hills. In early historic times they ventured to the coast at Tully Inlet where they mixed with Janjula. T. McCourt traced for me a quartzite mine for large ['babakana] knife blades of the so-called leilira type to a place 6 miles (15 km.) south of the Redbanks Copper Mine. These blades were traded to the Lardiil of Mornington Island in exchange for young girls sent in marriage to the Karawa. The blades, known to the Karawa as ['kulunja], were traded widely also in other directions by them. The people of this tribe share with the Kaiadilt of Bentinck Island a high B-blood ratio. B is otherwise almost nonexistent elsewhere in Australia except among the Tagalag.
Co-ordinates137°15'E x 17°15'S
Area6,300 sq. m. (16,300 sq. km.)
ReferencesStretton, 1893; Spencer and Gillen, 1899; Mathews, 1899 (Gr. 6443, 6504), 1900 (Gr. 6575), 1901 (Gr. 6453); Power in Basedow, 1907; Spencer, 1914; Sharp, 1935; Tindale, 1938 MS, 1940, 1960 MS, 1963 MS; Simmons, Graydon, and Tindale, 1964; A.I.A.S. Report, 1966; Yallop, 1969; McCourt, 1970 MS.
Alternative NamesKarawa (valid alternative pronunciation), Karrawar, Garawa, Kurrawar, Korrawa, Grawa, Leearawa, Kariwa (Iliaura pronunciation), Wulungwara (horde at Wollongorang), Wollongorang (place name).