Location: Meekatharra north to Gascoyne River; at Mount Maitland and Robinson Range; east to Wiluna and Lakes Way and King; at Peak Hill and Murchison West. An aged Geraldton informant said he knew the people around Meekatherra as the Dirungu. Berndt (1959) placed a term Badu on his sketch map. This term merely indicates the people practiced subincision. The 'Yarragabbie' of L. A. Wells's account has been considered to be the same as Yarrabubba 30 miles west-northwest of Meekatharra and beyond the territory of this tribe. Note that ['kabi] and ['baba] both mean water in this area. In 1940 I preferred Ngadawongga as tribal name but Ngaiawongga now seems more accurate; however, this is still one of the least understood tribal areas in Western Australia. Color plate 32 is relevant.
Co-ordinates: 119°45'E x 26°40'S
Area: 13,200 sq. m. (34,300 sq. km.)
References: Wells (ca. 1890); Bates, 1913, 1914; Connelly, 1932; Davidson, 1938; Tindale, 1940, 1966 MS; Brandenstein, 1965 MS.
Alternative Names: Ngajawonga, Ngaiu-wonga, Ngadhawonga, Ngargawonga, Maliar:a (applied by Wadjari, basic meaning 'east'), Wallawe, Waula (means 'west' or 'northwest,' applied by Koara), Pidungu ('rock hole' people-a general term), Madutjara (name used by the Pini).