Ngadlu tampinthi ngadlu Kaurna Miyurna yartangka. Munaintya puru purruna ngadlu-itya. Munaintyanangku yalaka tarrkarriana tuntarri.

We acknowledge we are on Kaurna Miyurna land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.

Cultural Sensitivity Warning
It is a condition of use of the cultural components of the Museum Archives that users ensure that any disclosure of information contained in this collection is consistent with the views and sensitivities of Indigenous people. Users are warned that there may be words and descriptions that may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Users should also be aware that some records document research into people and cultures using a scientific research model dating from the first half of the twentieth century, and depicts people as research subjects in ways which may today be considered offensive. Some records contain terms and annotations that reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, and may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances. Users should be aware that in some Indigenous communities, hearing names of deceased persons might cause sadness or distress, particularly to the relatives of these people. Furthermore, certain totemic symbols may also have prohibitions relating to the age, initiation and ceremonial status or clan of the person who may see them. Records included may be subject to access conditions imposed by Indigenous communities and/or depositors. Users are advised that access to some materials may be subject to these terms and conditions that the Museum is required to maintain.
Accept

Harvard-Adelaide Universities expedition, 1938-39

Archive Collections / Dr Norman Barnett Tindale / Series AA338/11 / Harvard-Adelaide Universities expedition, 1938-39
Supplementary to: 'Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, Australia, 1938-1939. Journal and notes by Norman B. Tindale', 2 vols, AA 338/1/15/1-2

This series contains restricted material.

This item consists of one wax cylinder recorded by Norman B Tindale during the Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological expedition (1938-39). For details of this expedition, see Tindale's 'Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, Australia, 1938-1939. Journal and notes by Norman B. Tindale' (2 vols, AA 338/1/15/1-2).

It is not clear how many wax cylinders in total were recorded by Tindale during this expedition, although it is likely that the number was small. The surviving cylinder listed below was recorded at the Brewarrina Aboriginal Station (NSW) in July 1938 from George Dutton, a Wanjiwalku man. Tindale recorded a wealth of ethnological material from Dutton, including some songs. In his expedition journal Tindale noted that: 'of one of his songs I obtained a poor wax reproduction on our wretched Edison recorder, which gets worse every time we use it' (AA 338/1/15/1, p.177). Tindale noted that the song is of special interest as it contains information relating to the extent of the country of the singer. Elsewhere in his journal Tindale refers to the song as a 'boundary song'.

The song is entitled:
AA 338/11/13/

  • 'Dande:ira of the Small Diver Bird' (from SW Queensland)
    [Track 1.Tape No. 9579B; TT21; Cyl (HAR-AD); AS361]



The wax cylinder is accompanied by the following Tindale note: 'Dandeira or 'song' of the ŋandaŋara Tribe sung at initiation - it relates the boundaries of the country of an ancestral man (not a totem). The song belongs at Nokabara:ra on the Wilson River. Data in Tindale, N.B. p.177-179, 14 July 1938'. The last point is a reference to Tindale's field journal AA 338/1/15/1. This is the only song recorded to CD: AA 338/11/13.

Other song texts found it Tindale's Harvard-Adelaide Universities expedition journals include:
  • Nge:mba Crow Song (p. 178)
    [No audio nor transcription. AS360]

  • Kitabal songs relating to the story 'The Old Woman and her Grandson' (p. 289)
    [No audio nor transcription]

  • Ba:baram initiation song (p. 397)
    [No audio nor transcription]

  • Taua songs recorded at Lake Wallaga, NSW (pp. 774-775)
    [No audio nor transcription. AS362-3633]

  • Wallaby song recorded at Cape Barren Island, TAS (inserted at p.786)
    [No audio nor transcription]

  • Antakerinja Malu (Kangaroo) songs recorded at Port Augusta, SA (p. 1027)
    [No audio nor transcription. AS364-365]

  • Wati Kutjara songs recorded at Mount Margaret Mission, WA (p. 1123)
    [No audio nor transcription. AS366-367]



Tindale Tribes: Wanjiwalku; Ngemba; Kitabal; Barbaram; Mandjindja; Antakirinja; Thaua.

Creator: Dr Norman Barnett Tindale
Control: AA 338/11/13/Track 1
Date Range:  1938  -  1938
Quantity:    1   wax cylinder, 1 access CD
Series:  AA338/11
Tindale Tribes:
Antakirinja, Barbaram, Kitabal, Mandjindja, Ngemba, Thaua, Wanjiwalku
BESbswy