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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
This manuscript contains the original works of David Unaipon's Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines.
Notes
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This manuscript may contain culturally sensitive words or descriptions, some of which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts.
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This is a typescript copy of Manuscript held at the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
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Contents: Unaipon, David - Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, 1924-25.
Contents
- Preface, single work essay (p. [])
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Aboriginal Folklore,
single work
essay
'Perhaps some day Australian writers will use aboriginal myths and weave literature from the, the same as other writers have done with the Roman, Greek, Norse, and Arthurians legends...' (David Unaipon)
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Aborigines: Their Traditions and Customs Where did They Come From?,
single work
essay
David outlines the traditions, customs and laws of the aboriginal people.
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 1-7. -
Some Stories About My Race : What the Aborigines' Carvings Near Sydney Mean,
single work
oral history
Note:
This loose leaf section is numbered 2:1-5.
Shows hand written corrections.
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Belief of the Aborigine in a Great Spirit,
single work
oral history
Note: this loose leaf section is numbered 1-3
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Confusion of Tongue,
single work
oral history
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 4:1-3.
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Fishing,
single work
oral history
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 5:1-17
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The Flood and Its Result: Berrwerina Tribe Darling River,
single work
single work
prose
Indigenous story
dreaming story
A story from the Berrwerina people of the Darling River, New South Wales.
Note: this loose leaf section is numbered 6:1-18. -
Gool Lun Naga (Green Frog),
single work
short story
Indigenous story
Benjamin Miller describes this story in the following way: 'a creation story about a Water Spirit who desires to enter the material world. A Lyre Bird, who is adept at singing the songs of other animals, is asked by a spirit to sing into a stream. After much beautiful singing a Being emerges from the water. The Lyre Bird names the Being "Gool lun naga, a son of the clear running stream of water"'.
Source: Benjamin Miller, 'David Unaipon's Style of Subversion: Performativity and Becoming in "Gool Lun Naga (Green Frog)"', JASAL Special Issue (2008):84.
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 8:1-9. -
Hunting,
single work
oral history
essay
The author talks about the hunting practices of the Australian Aboriginals.
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 9:1-19. -
How the Tortoise Got His Shell,
David Unaipon
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
A story about the tortoise and his conflict with the Eaglehawk.
Note:This loose leaf section is numbered 10: 2-7.
Also included hand written corrections.
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Love Story of the Mar Rallang,
single work
prose
dreaming story
The story of two sisters who fall in love with the same boy.
Note:Author's Note: Incomplete.
This loose leaf section is numbered 12:1-3.
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The Mar Kar Ree (Moon),
David Unaipon
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
The story of a man called The Mar Kar Ree and his trail of looking for a wife.
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 13:1-2. -
Marriage Customs of the Australian Aborigines,
single work
oral history
The author talks about the customs,rituals, and laws of marriage between men and women in Australian Aboriginal societies.
Note:Titled as: Marriage Customs of the Australia Aborigines
This loose leaf sections is numbered 14:1-8.
Hand written corrections.
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The Mischievous Crow and the Good He Did,
David Unaipon
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
In a comparison to the biblical stories of the forces of good and evil, the author presents this story of crow from the Narrinyur people, an Aboriginal representation of good and evil which has played an important part in their traditions and legends.
Note: this loose leaf section is numbered 15:1-35. -
Narroondarie's Wives,
single work
short story
'Narroondarie is the name of one of the many good men that were sent among the various tribes of the Australian Aborigines...' (David Unaipon, 1924-25)
Note: This loose leaf sections is numbered 16:1-22. -
Nhung E Umpie,
David Unaipon
,
single work
essay
Indigenous story
The author talks about the concept of human nature and its similarities between all nationalities, languages, and religions. Further, he talks of the institution of the custom Nhung E umpie, a custom that practices the removal of a portion of the navel cord from mother and child at birth.
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 17:1-7. -
Panp Parl Lowa : Spirit of Help Among the Aborigines,
single work
oral history
The author talks of the traditional custom of Panp Parl Lowa which translates as "Do unto others as you world that they should do unto you". (David Unaipon, 1924-25)
Note:this loose leaf section is numbered 18:1-5.
Includes hand written corrections.
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Sport,
single work
oral history
The author talks of the universal spirit of sport, even among the Australian Aboriginals.
Note: This loose leaf sections is numbered 19:1-11. -
The Story of the Mungingee,
single work
short story
Indigenous story
Mungingee is the Aboriginal legend of the creation of constellation Pleiades, and a story of endurance and control.
Note:This loose leaf section is numbered 20:1-3.
Includes an introduction.