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y separately published work icon The Land of Byamee : Australian Wild Life in Legend and Fact selected work   prose   essay   Indigenous story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1938... 1938 The Land of Byamee : Australian Wild Life in Legend and Fact
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The nature legends retold in this book are genuine products of the aboriginal [sic] mind. The presentation of the animal legends of the aborigines [sic], together with the facts, as at present known, regarding the lives and habits of their heroes and heroines, has not been attempted before.' (Dust jacket)

McKeown explains in the 'Preface' (pp.[xi]-xiv) that many of the tales in this volume come from the 'Wiradjurie of western New South Wales'. He blends retellings of dreaming stories with explanations of their context and photographs of Indigenous people and Australian animals.

Notes

  • Dedication: 'To M. J., because she liked the tales.'
  • Contents indexing in process.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Sydney, New South Wales,:Angus and Robertson , 1938 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Concerning the Country of Byamee : Brown Babies and Coolabah Trees., single work essay (p. 1-19)
The Arrival of the Animals in Australia., single work prose Indigenous story (p. 20-24)
Bohrah, the Kangaroo, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 26-33)
Ng'rui Moch, The Native Cat, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 34-38)
Koob-borr, the Koala, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 38-49)
Gayardaree, the Platypus, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 50-58)
Piggiebillah, the Echidna, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 60-64)
Narahdarn, the Bat, and the Coming of Death, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 65-74)
The Mystery of Death, and the Coming of the Butterflies, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 75-81)
The Origin of the Cuckoos, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 82-93)
Bralgah, the Dancer, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 94-101)
Moograbah, the Bell-Magpie, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 102-112)
Wahn, the Crow, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 113-132)
The Origin of Byahmul, the Black Swan, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 133-138)
Dinewan, the Emu, and Goomblegubbon, the Plain Turkey, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 139-150)
Weringerong, the Lyre-Bird, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 156-155)
Mungoongarlee, the Goanna, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 158-174)
Nuru-Wordu-Bununa, The Carpet Snake, single work prose Indigenous story (p. 173-182)
Wayambeh, the Tortoise., single work prose Indigenous story (p. 183-196)
Tidda-Lick, the Frog, and the Great Flood., single work prose Indigenous story (p. 197-212)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Alternative title: The Land of Byamee
Notes:
Illustrated with photographs by H. H. Finlayson, Norman Tindale, H. Burrell, K. A. Hindwood, M. S. R. Sharland, C. C. Crane, and the author.
Last amended 14 Apr 2010 15:38:44
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