Galkipuy limurruŋ gurruṯumirr mala.
Family relationship signs.
Page 7:
Goŋ garrwar ḻiyaŋurnydja ŋunhiyin märi'mun wo marratja.
Hand up and down on the top of the head is paternal grandfather (and their sisters) or son's children.
Page 9:
Goŋ dhamunumunŋurnydja ŋathi, momu ga gaminyarr.
Fist on the chin is paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather.
Page 11:
Ḻambarrŋurnydja goŋ bäpa ga
mukul-bäpa.
Hand across shoulder is father and father's siblings.
Page 13:
Goŋ dhiliŋinyŋurnydja ŋamaw'.
Hand on breast is mother and mother's sisters.
Page 15:
Goŋ guḻunŋurnydja waku.
Hand on stomach is child.
Page 17:
Goŋ waṉaŋurnydja ŋapipi.
Three fingers facing up on the inside of
the arm is your maternal uncle. Special relationship.
Page 19:
Gumurrŋurnydja goŋ 'ŋarra'.
Pointing to myself is me.
Page 21:
Dharwaŋurnydja goŋ ŋunhi galay wo
dhuway.
Hand (closed fist) on the hip represents husband or wife as well as your maternal uncle's children or your paternal aunt's children.
Page 23:
Dhuwal ḻäyŋurnydja goŋ ga milkum
miyalknha.
Hand pointing to head is woman.
Bittja wiripuny mala ŋathapuy ga
warrakan'puy.
Signs for food and animals.
Page 27:
Goŋ gumurrŋurnydja dhuwandja gapu.
One sign for water is two hands held
together and outstretched in front of you.
Page 29:
Dhakalnydja nhe wutthu'wutthun ŋunhi gapuw.
Cheek filled with air and then air expelled with fingers bounced on cheek means water.
Page 31:
Dhuwandja goŋ dhurrwaraŋur nhe ga ḻuka ŋatha.
Bunched fingers bounced backwards and forwards near mouth means to eat or food.
Page 33:
Goŋ maniŋurnydja miyapunuw.
Fingers across the throat means turtle.
Page 35:
Goŋ dhäŋurnydja ŋunhi ŋarirriw'.
Finger in between lips is fish.
Page 37:
Dhuwandja goŋ dhurrwaraŋur
maranydjalkku.
Fingers wiped down bottom lip means stingray.
Page 39:
Dhuwandja goŋ maṉḏany gumurrŋurnydja ga warrakan'.
Arms flapped like wings means bird.
Page 41:
Goŋ dhunupa ga yarrupthun ga, ŋunhiyin ga mali' nhuma ga nhäma bäru.
Hands pointed down and arms out wide and straight means crocodile.
Page 43:
Dhuwandja goŋ maṉḏany guḻunŋurnydja ŋunhiyin weṯi'
Hands pointing down and bounced up and down over chest means wallaby.
Yaka yolŋu'-yulŋunhany nyaŋ'thun.
Signs for things not eaten.
Page 47:
Goŋ marwatŋurnydja ḏilip ga.
Hands on hair means tea leaves.
Page 49:
Goŋ galki giṉiŋgarrŋurnydja ga wuŋgangu. Yaka weṯiw.
Hands held down pointing to the ground is dog, not kangaroo. Kangaroo is where hands are held over the chest.
Ŋathil baman'tja walal ŋuli ganha
waŋanhaminya goŋdhu yan.
Traditional Hand Signs.
Page 53:
Dhuwandja ŋayi ga 'lakaram dhäwu'.
Finger on tongue means speak or a story to tell.
Page 55:
Goŋ garrwarthi 'galkurr'!
Hands raised means stop or wait.
Page 57:
Märrma' goŋ ḻiyaŋur 'ŋorra'.
Two hands next to head means sleep.
Page 59:
Dhuwandja maliy' ga lakaram 'bäyŋu'.
Hands turned around to upright means to have nothing or empty.
Page 61:
Goŋ ga wutthu'wutthunmirr ŋunhiyiny guṉḏaw ga rrupiyaw.
Fist into hand is stone or money.
Page 63:
Dhuwandja ga boy'yun wata goŋlil 'gurthaw'.
Blowing into hand is the sign for fire.
Page 65:
Dhuwandja ga lakaram 'dharrwa'.
Hands used in clapping motion means many or lots.
Page 67:
Dhuwandja ga dhunupamirriyam 'ŋunha'.
Finger moved from one direction to the other means over there.
Page 69:
Goŋ gumurrŋurnydja ŋunhiyiny 'rirrikthun'.
Hands bunched towards chest means sick.
Page 71:
Dhuwandja ga milkum nambany 'waŋganynha' wo 'waŋgany yolŋu'.
One finger held up means one or person.
Page 73:
Dhuwandja ga 'marrtji'.
Meaning to go.
Page 75:
Dhuwandja ga wäthun nhuŋu 'go'.
Hands upraised and then lowered means to call someone over, 'come here'.
Page 77:
Dhuwandja ga dhä birrkay'yun nhuna 'wanha' wo 'nhaku'?
Hand upraised then twisted meaning where or why?
Page 79:
Dhuwandja ga goŋ ḻärr'yun ga lakaram 'yindi'.
Hands held apart means big or very big.
Page 81:
Goŋ dhuwandja 'mokuy'.
Fingers clenched like claws means ghost or spirit.
Page 83:
Dhuwandja 'ḏakul' ga 'yiki'.
Chopping motion on hand means axe or knife.
Page 85:
Dhuwandja goŋ ga mali' 'buŋgulpuy'.
Fingers raised and arms in up and down motion means dance.
Dhiyaŋuny bala limurr ga bäkin ŋunhi mala dhäruk goŋdhun.
Non-traditional Signs
Page 89:
Buḻ'yun dopulu.
Chopping motion into hand means card game.
Page 91:
Dhuwandja 'rrupiya'.
Finger in circle on palm means money.
Page 93:
Dhuwandja 'marthaŋay'.
Hand held flat in front means boat.
Page 95:
Dhuwandja 'wukirri'.
Writing motion with hand means school.
Page 97:
Dhuwandja 'biriya'.
Praying.
Page 99:
Dhuwandja 'mutika'.
Car.
Page 101:
Dhuwandja 'biḻayin'.
Plane.
Mayaltha
Mayalthay waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', rretha ga dhalpi. Ŋathany mala gapuŋura yan. Ŋarirri', maranydjalk ga burruwuny.
In the wet season, we usually see northern milkwood and cabbage palm flowers. Food is only from the water. Fish, stingray and young shark.
Guṉmul
Guṉmulyu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', gäŋa. Ŋathany mala gapuŋura yan, ŋarirri' ga maypalnha.
In the mid wet season, we usually see wild passionfruit flower. There is only food from the sea, fish and shellfish.
Miḏawarr
Miḏawarrnydja dhuwal walu ŋatha ŋamakuli'ŋu. Bawalamirriŋura napurr ŋuli märram ga maḻŋ'maram ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur, gathul'ŋur, guḻunŋur ga gapuŋur. Nhämany napurr ŋuli wurrkiny' mala rowu, djaḻatjaḻa, ḻämbarr, yawuny ga wäkwaknha.
The end of the wet season is the time for harvesting food. You can find and collect food anywhere in the bush, mangroves, billabong and sea. We usually see the flowers of goat's foot creeper, swamp banksia, starflower, fern-leaved grevillea and waterlilies.
Dharratharra
Dharratharray waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', ḻämbarr, guŋurru' ga yawuny. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja ganguri, getkit mapu', ḻatjin', miyapunu mapu', nyoka' ga ṉamurany.
In the cool dry season, we usually see starflower, Darwin woollybutt flower and fern-leaved grevillea flowers. Food is in the bush and sea: yams, seagull eggs, mangrove worms, turtle eggs, crabs and oysters.
Rarranhdharr
Rarranhdharryu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki' dharraŋgulk, yukuwa ga ŋäṉ'ka-bakarra. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja miyapunu, guku, nyoka', yuṉuŋaḻi ga gurrumaṯtjiny.
In the hot dry season, we usually see the flowers of red flowering kurrajong, wild cow peaand Kakadu plum. Food is in the bush and in the sea: turtle, honey, crabs, black-lipped oysterand magpie geese.
Wolmay
Wolmay waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', dhaŋgi, ḻuŋiny ga munydjutj. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja. Burruwu, mäḏi ga ganguriny.
In the build-up we usually see the flowers of cocky apple, ḻuŋiny and green plum. Food is in the bush and the sea. Young sharks, crayfish and yams.
Dhuluḏur'
Dhuluḏur'yu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', wärrkarr ga lumbi-lumbi. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja. Maranydjalk, burruwu, mäḏi ga ganguriny.
In the pre wet season we usually see the flowers of spider lily and lumbi-lumbi. Food is in the bush and the sea. Stingray, young shark, crayfish and yams.
Clouds and Winds Wordlist
Page 2
Dhuwandja nyirnyir waltjaṉ marrtji dharyun.
This drizzling rain is pouring down.
Page 3
Dhuwandja nyika' waltjaṉ marrtji nyärryun ga watany ga biw'yun ga waŋalkanha.
There is light, misty rain and there is a windy breeze.
Page 4
Bärramirriynydja waluy napurruny ŋuli ga maykarraṉ'dhun buma bili yindin waltjaṉ napurr ŋuli ga märram.
During the west wind season, we have lightning strikes and heavy rain.
Page 5
Yindiny baḻkurrk ŋuli nyärryun ŋhuni ŋuli ga gumurryu gäma Bärray' watay.
The big rains start when the strong west winds begin to blow towards the shore.
Page 6
Dhukumulyu waltjaṉdhu ŋuli dharyun, ga wäŋgany ŋuli ga dhärra dhurruknha ga dhiwkthiwknha.
During constant and heavy rain, places get wet and dirty.
Page 7
Gapuny ŋuli ḏogumirriyirra ga gumurrlila wäŋalila ŋuli ŋal'yundja.
When it's the windy season, king tides come up the shore.
Page 8
Dhurrwaraŋur yindiŋur waltjaṉŋur gapuny ŋuli ga waṉḏirr djurrdjurrnha raŋii-ŋupandja balany moṉuklilnha.
After heavy rain, there is fresh, spring water everywhere.
Page 9
Dhuwal gäpaḻaḻ marrtji mana'manapanmirr waltjaṉgun.
Clouds are gathering to bring the rain.
Page 10
Bärramirriynydja waluy, gäpaḻaḻnydja ŋuli molthirrnha, ga ŋuriŋiyiny ŋuli maŋutji-ḻakaraman yindin waltjaṉ ga wata.
During the time of the west winds, clouds become black and it tells us that heavy rain and strong winds are coming.
Page 2:
Nhä nhanŋu ŋunhi ḏilminyinguny walu?
Wanha ŋayiny miḏawarrnydja? Dhuwal bala marrtji ga.
Yow. Dhuwana limurruŋguwuynydja gam' ŋarra dhu lakaraman.
Ḏilminyin, yurr waluny nhanŋu dhiyakuny borumdhinyarawnydja borumguny ŋayi dhu miḏawarr gäḻaŋuy yan.
Page 4:
Dhuwandja limurruŋ borum Warramiriw bäpurruw, ḏilminyin, wäwuru, baḻkpaḻk wuŋapu
ga mulkmulk. Dhuwal mala ŋayi manymaktja.
Ga ŋayi waŋgany ŋatha baḻkpaḻktja gurinydhirra ŋayi dhu, bala retthirra ga bominyan ŋayi ŋuli molthirra ŋayi dhu.
Ga manymak dhuwal mala limurruŋ ŋathany ga borumdja, yurr dhuwal ŋunhi waŋganyŋur walal dhuwal borumdja mala.
Page 6:
Ga waŋganydja ŋayi ŋatha limurr dhu bathan dhaŋalkkum gurtha, yow. Ga waŋganydja ŋatha ŋayi ga gänaŋ'thuna dhiyakal ŋathawal ga borumgal.
Dhuwandja mala ŋatha manymaknha bawalamirra ŋanhany dhu dhuwananhany mala borumnha goŋdhu ŋayatham ga ḻuka bawalamirr birrka'mirra.
Ga dhuwandja waŋganydja ŋatha yaka dhu ŋayatham ḏikuny. Ga bathana yan dhu yaka nhanŋu dhu ga gumurr nhinany dhiyak ŋathawnydja.
Page 8:
Ŋunhi dhu dhaŋalkkumany gurthany, ga bathandja ganan yurr yarrkthurra, ga nhina yaka barrku.
Bay ŋayipi dhu ga nhära ŋawulul' dhika nhä marrtji ṉoluŋdhirr gänan, ga bay ŋayi dhu räwakthirr rerriwulthirr warrpam, ga bay ŋayi dhu bulŋuyukthirr.
Page 10:
Bala yolŋuny dhu marrtjin galkithirra, bala yaw'yuna munathany, bala dhulkuman ŋanhany ga bilin. Ga bay dhu munatha yal'yun warrpam.
Page 12:
Bala warrkthuna bala ḻukan guḻ'yuna marrtji. Balanya ŋayi rumbaldja nhakun gatjinat.
Ga waŋgany ŋarra moŋal, wiripuny ŋatjaŋaḏal. Dhuwandja ŋatjaŋaḏaldja yäku ŋatha nyumukuṉiny'. Ŋunha Yirriŋan ga ŋorra. Ga milwiṉiny dhuwal ŋatha, dhuwandja waṉa dharrwa. Nhanŋu dhiyakuny ŋatjaŋaḏalwuny, märi'mirriŋuny ŋayi dhuwal milwiṉinydja.
English Translation
What's the time for redberries?
Which direction is the wind coming from, East-South-East?
Yes, it's on its way. Ok, this is it, I'm going to tell you about redberries.
The time for redberries to ripen is Miḏawarr, around about the time the ESE wind blows.
The redberries, the roundberries, the treenuts, the blackberries and mulkmulk all belong to the people of the Warramiri clan. These fruits all taste good. The treenut becomes green, after that it becomes red and then it becomes black, and we call it bominya. These are all our fruits and our nuts and food.
And with the other one, the wild cashew, we don't touch the orange part. We make a fire and cook the nut. This food, the nut is different from the other fruits and nuts. These other foods and nuts are better, and good for us to eat anytime. But this one food or nut, we can't touch it when it is raw (i.e. uncooked). We have to sit close by and wait for it to be cooked.
When the fire is lit and while the nuts are being cooked, we have to move away from the fire and sit at a distance until the nuts are cooked, the smoke is gone, the fire has burned down and the nuts are all dried and cool.
Then we can move closer to the fire, dig a hole in the sand, put the nuts in then cover them with sand and wait till the sand has cooled down. Then we take the nuts out and eat them. The nuts look like cashew nuts.
And I forgot to mention the other root called ŋatjaŋaḏal. These roots are very small. They are found at Yirriŋa. Another name for this food is milwiṉi. It has lots of small off-shoots.
This milwiṉi is the grandmother of the ŋatjaŋaḏal.
Page 1:
"Ŋ, ŋ, ŋ," bitjan ŋuli ga waṉ'kurrany waŋa.
"Ŋ, ŋ, ŋ," that's what the bandicoot says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ganguriw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating bush yams."
Page 2:
"Mu, mu, mu," bitjan ŋuli ga murryilnydja waŋa.
"Mu, mu, mu," that's what the Torres Strait pigeon says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋathaw maŋutjiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating seeds."
Page 3:
"Nyo-o-o," bitjan ŋuli ga wärraŋdja nyowyun.
"Nyo-o-o," that's what the dingo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl djandaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating goanna."
Page 4:
"Moo-o-o," bitjan ŋuli ga detuŋdja waŋa.
"Moo-o-o," that's what the buffalo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl mulmuw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating grass."
Page 5:
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," bitjan ŋuli ga gurrumaṯtjiny waŋa.
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," that's what the magpie goose says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl räkaywu nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating water chestnuts."
Page 6:
"Gek, gek, gek," bitjan ŋuli ga muthaliny' waŋa.
"Gek, gek, gek," that's what the duck says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl wäkwakku maŋutjiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating waterlily root."
Page 7:
"Wäk, wäk, wäk," bitjan ŋuli ga wäktja waŋa.
"Wäk, wäk, wäk," that's what the Torresian crow says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl bawalamirriw ŋathaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating any food."
Page 8:
"Ḻatj, ḻatj, ḻatj," bitjan ŋuli ga ḻatjḻatjtja waŋa.
"Ḻatj, ḻatj, ḻatj," that's what the northern rosella says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl munydjutjku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating wild green plums."
Page 9:
"Ŋäk, ŋäk, ŋäk," bitjan ŋuli ga wämuttja waŋa.
"Ŋäk, ŋäk, ŋäk," that's what the wedge-tailed eagle says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'ku ŋarirriw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 10:
"Wo, wo," bitjan ŋuli ga worr'wurrnydja waŋa.
"Wo, wo," that's what the owl says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyiknyikku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating mice."
Page 11:
"Ḏam, ḏam, ḏam," bitjan ŋuli ga ratjuktja waŋa.
"Ḏam, ḏam, ḏam," that's what the barramundi says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'mirriw mala ŋarirriw' nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 12:
"Wer', wer', wer'," bitjan ŋuli ga marrŋuny' waŋa.
"Wer,' wer,' wer'," that's what the possum says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋathuw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating cycad nuts."
Page 13:
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," bitjan ŋuli ga ḏamalany waŋa.
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," that's what the white-breasted sea eagle says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋarirriw' nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating fish."
Page 14:
"Guriŋ, guriŋ," bitjan ŋuli ga warrnyuny' waŋa.
"Guriŋ, guriŋ," that's what the fruit bat says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl borumgu mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating fruit."
Page 15:
"Get, get, get," bitjan ŋuli ga getkittja waŋa.
"Get, get, get," that's what the tern says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'ku ŋarirriw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 16:
"Garrurr, garrurr," bitjan ŋuli ga bäruny waŋa.
"Garrurr, garrurr," that's what the crocodile says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl mirriyaw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating blue crabs."
Page 17:
"Wir', wir', wir'," bitjan ŋuli ga wopuluny waŋa.
"Wir', wir', wir'," that's what the black-shouldered kite says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ḏetjku mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating grasshoppers."
Page 18
"Ŋerrk, ŋerrk, ŋerrk," bitjan ŋuli ga ŋerrktja waŋa.
"Ŋerrk, ŋerrk, ŋerrk," that's what the sulphur crested cockatoo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl gäŋaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating wild passionfruit."
Page 19:
"Guḏurrk, guḏurrk," bitjan ŋuli ga guḏurrkuny waŋa.
"Guḏurrk, guḏurrk," that's what the brolga says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl yaŋaraw' wäkwakku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating waterlily stems."
Page 20:
"Bok, buk, buk," bitjan ŋuli ga garkmandja waŋa.
"Bok, buk, buk," that's what the green frog says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl wurruḻuḻ'wu nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating flies."
Page 21:
"Ḏup, ḏup, ḏup,'" bitjan ŋuli ga wurrpaṉ'tja waŋa.
"Ḏup, ḏup, ḏup," that's what the emu says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl dhalpiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating black berries."
Prepared by J. Galpagalpa, D. Wanymuli, M. Wilkinson and L. de Veer.
Illustrations by Andie Clements, Jo-Anne Thorne, Zhou Xiaoping, and
Kenisha Gadatharryurwuy.
Compiled by Emma Smolenaers, Sherilyn Dhamarraṉdji, Assistant Teachers and Andie Clements with assistance from Daisy Goṉḏarra and Fred Munyirinyir.
Design by Andie Clements.
Published in 1984 as the chapters 'Human Classifications' and 'Artifacts' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC. Additional entries compiled into 'Buku-Djuḻkmaranhamirr' chapter by Emma Smolenaers, Assistant Teachers and Andie Clements from Alan Walkers' Macassan influence on Aboriginal languages and culture of Northern Australia paper July 1987.
Page 1
Waŋganymirriy waluy, baman', watay ḻuŋgurrmay, Maŋgatharra mala gan goyurr ŋoy-ŋupar mitjiyaŋdhu Takarrinalil.
One day, a long time ago, the Macassans travelled over water in a mitjiyaŋ (wooden sailboat) with the North wind, to Takarrina (Mission Beach).
Page 3
Yolŋu mala gan dhärran raŋiŋur bili walal gan nhäŋal mitjiyaŋ räli gan waṉḏin. Waŋan walal, "Yol ŋunha?"
Yolŋu were standing on the beach, and they saw the boat coming. They said, "Who is that?"
Page 5
Bala Maŋgatharray gurrupar rrupiya, ŋarali', galiku', berratha ga ḻuŋiny Yolŋuw mala.
Then the Macassans gave coins, tobacco, calico, rice and pipes to Yolŋu.
Page 7
Yolŋuy mala milkuŋal dharripa Maŋgatharrawal raŋiŋur.
Yolŋu showed the Macassans trepang (sea cucumber) on the beach.
Page 9
Yolŋuy ga Maŋgatharra mala gan bumar dharripa bala walulila ḻithanmaraŋal.
Yolŋu and Macassans all collected trepang and dried them out in the sun.
Page 11
Ŋunhiliyin walal marrtjin buŋgulnha djäma.
Then lastly they all danced and celebrated.
Page 13
Maŋgatharra roŋiyinan mitjiyaŋdhu walalaŋgingal barrkulil wäŋalil. Yolŋu mala waŋan "Djutjtjutjnha! Nhäma yalalaŋumirriy!"
The Macassans went back to their home far away. Yolŋu said "Goodbye! See you next year!"
Page 1
Wiripuny, yolŋu walal gan nhina-nhinan wäŋaŋur.
Some people were sitting in their home.
Page 2
Ga wiripuny walal yolŋu'-yulŋu marrtjin bala djatthunaraw wiyi'-wiyingu dharpaw mala. Ga gulkthurrnydja walal dharpany goŋ-waŋgany ga waŋgany bäythinyawuy.
They got up and went to cut some poles. They cut six of them.
Page 3
Ga bulu walal djatthurr ḻurrkun' wiyi'-wiyin dharpa mälakmaranharaw.
Then they cut three long poles to lay crossways.
Page 4
Bala walal ŋarŋgan mala yaw'yurr ŋurikiyin dharpawnha mala. Bala walal nhirrpa'-nhirrpara ŋunhi dharpany mala.
They dug some holes for the poles. Then they stood up the poles.
Page 5
Ga beŋuryiny walal gondhaŋal ṉäkun mala bala gäŋal wäŋalila. Djäma walal ŋunhiyi ḻoḻuny dhawar'maraŋal ḻinygun.
Then they collected some bark and brought it back home. They finished building the shelter.
Page 6
Ga ḻinygun dhuwal. Bala walal dhathar'yurra balan yuṯalila wäŋalil.
Then it was finished. They moved camp to their new shelter.
Published in 1984 as the chapters 'Artifacts - Travel', 'Water - Tides', 'Land and Sky' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC.
Prepared by J. Galpagalpa, D. Wanymuli, M. Wilkinson and L. de Veer.
Compiled by Emma Smolenaers, Classroom Assistant Teachers and
Andie Clements.
Illustrations by Jeffery Ranhdhakpuy, Brian Minydjirriwuy (coloured by Andie Clements and Kenisha Gadatharryurwuy) and Andie Clements.
First published in 1984 as the chapters 'Food, Cooking and Fire', 'Artifacts - For Camp Use', 'Land and Sky' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC. Additional entries compiled into Chapters from Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' by Andie Clements
Prepared by J. Galpagalpa, D. Wanymuli, M. Wilkinson and L. de Veer. Compiled by Emma Smolenaers, Andie Clements, Fred Munyirinyir, Classroom Assistant Teachers and Learning on Country Staff.
Illustrations by Jo-Anne Thorne, Margaret Muṯuwili, Andie Clements and Emma Smolenaers.
Page 1:
Dhuwandja dhäwu ḏuttji'wuy. Ŋunhi ŋuli ŋanapurruŋ gurthany bäyŋuthirr, bala napurr ŋuli ḏuttjin' djäma. Dharrwa dharpa mala ḏuttjiny' dhuwal.
This story is about making fire with firesticks. We do this when there is no fire or matches. There are many trees suitable for making firesticks.
Page 2:
Waŋganydja muka dharpa ḏuttji', ga wiripuny malwan.
Napurrnydja dhu lakaram waŋgany dharpa malwanbuy.
One tree is called ḏuttji' (Premna Obtusifolia), and the other is malwan (Native Hibiscus). The one we have used here is Native Hibiscus.
Page 4:
Ŋurruŋuny napurr ŋuli marrtji mayaŋgurr wo bam'palakurr, bala yurrnha nhäma dharpa malwandja.
Beŋuryiny ḏaw'maram goŋdhuny, bala yikiynha djäma wiriny'tjuna buyuwuyukuman. Dharpany dhuwal märrma', ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu ga yothu. Ga dhuwandja ŋayi ga djäma yothu, ŋunhi ŋuli napurr ḏuttji'yun dhiyaŋ dharpay.
First, we look around a creek or coastal sand dune until we see a yellow hibiscus tree. We break off straight dead sticks by hand, and then scrape them with a knife to make them smooth. We use two sticks to make fire – a child stick and a mother stick. (This is because when the sticks are being used, they are likened to a baby sucking from the breast of the mother). Here the man (Andrew Galitju) is shaving the child stick smooth with a knife, because this is the stick that is twirled by rubbing between the hands.
Page 6:
Dhuwandja wuŋiḻi', ŋayi ga nhirrpan nyumukuṉiny' yothu, ga dhiyaŋun ŋuli wiripunhany nhäranhamaram.
In this photo he is driving a smaller sharpened stick into the child stick. This sharpened piece is broken off leaving its point inside the end of the child stick which is in contact with the mother stick during fire making, and from which the heat is derived.
Page 8:
Ŋurruŋuny ŋayi ga dhuwal wiriny'tjun ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny, waŋgany gali' yan.
The mother stick is then shaved flat, but only on one side.
Page 10:
Bala dhulu'wilaman yikiynha yothuwnha nhirrpanharaw.
Then the mother firestick is hollowed out with a knife so that the end of the child firestick will fit into it.
Page 12:
Mitthuna ga dhuwandja ŋarŋgany märr ŋayi dhu yalalany yupthun guḻa' gurtha man'pililila.
A little hole is cut at the side so that the smouldering sawdust will be able to fall out and collect on some bark.
Page 14:
Dhuwandja ŋayi ga yarrar'maram ḏäl man'pili, bala ŋayi dhu yalŋgikuman märr ŋayi dhu rulwaŋdhun guḻa ḏuttji'yunawuy gurtha, märr ŋayi dhu bondin nhärany.
Here he is stripping off some outer bark from a stringybark tree. He will soften this and break it up by rubbing it between his hands. Later he will place in it the smouldering product of his firesticks, whereupon the stringybark will act like tinder and catch alight.
Page 16:
Ga dhuwana ŋayi yalŋgikunhawuynydja man'pili. Wiripuny dhu märram räwak mulmu märr dhu bitjan bili nhära bondi.
Here is the softened stringybark. Alternatively dry grass can be used in the same way.
Page 18:
Dhuwandja ŋayi ḏuttji'yun yothuy dharpay, ga ḻukuynydja ŋayi ga dhurrparam ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny dharpany.
Here he is twirling the child firestick, whilst firmly holding the mother firestick in place with his feet (sometimes a few grains of sand are put inside the hollow of the mother firestick to help).
Page 20:
Ḏuttji'yun ŋäthil ŋuli ŋurruŋuny ga bäy ŋuli ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu gorrmur'yirra bala guḻany' ŋuli larryun man'pililila bala nhäran.
The firesticks are worked together until the mother firestick gets hot and an amount of smouldering ash falls out and collects on a strip of bark.
Page 22:
Nhäranhawuynydja ŋuli rulwaŋdhun yalŋgilila man'pililila mam'maram gurtha.
This smouldering pile is carefully placed in the ball of softened bark.
Page 24:
Bala boy'yuna gaŋga yan. Ga wataynha guŋga'yun mirithirrnydja. Ga beŋuryiny ŋuli ŋäṉarrnha djäma yindin gurtha.
Then he blows into it, only softly. Wind can also do the trick, (by holding up the ball of bark to the breeze or waving it slowly). In this way a flame grows and the bark catches alight.
Page 26:
Bala beŋuryiny rulwaŋdhun yindilil gurthalil.
Bala yurrnha ŋuli batha'-bathandja ŋarirriny', maypalnydja wo wäyindja mala dhiyaŋ ḏuttji'wuyyu gurthay.
This is then used to light a big fire on which we can cook fish, shellfish or meat.
(This translation is based on the Djambarrpuyŋu text but includes some extra notes in italics from observation of the process itself)