AustLit

'Dark, viscous honey, hot stuff— so go some of the words sung in Anbarra country in Arnhem Land to celebrate sugar bag, as translated into English by Margaret Clunies Ross (P 81).

'The Central Australian song focussed on in the book's title also has honey as a theme. Verse 60 in Stephen Wild's organisation of the song words runs, in his translation: He asked for honey Not enough honey (p 67) Stephen Wild introduces this verse with the comment, The sexual symbolism of honey has its parallel also in Western thought' (p 66). Indeed—and, it might prove safe to add, wherever there is honey. Imagery is part of the celebration of the power of language in song the world over. Since it is love that makes the world go round, as English speakers are used to putting it, and since singing offers people a slippery grip on the process, many of the same sexually symbolic associations crop up in song again and again, here, there and everywhere.' (Introduction)

These four books are undeniably Aboriginal in nature and are all important books but there the similarities end. They present three different perspectives. The Legend of the Seven Sisters and Wunambi are traditional stories from Western Australia written by May O'Brien and illustrated by Sue Wyatt with a definite educational purpose. Pigs and Honey, written and illustrated by a non-Aboriginal person, Jeanie Adams, gives an insight into the life of the Aurukun community on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. The Story of the Falling Star is not only a traditional story but also a story about the Paakantji people and their land in the Darling River area of New South Wales. It is told by one of their own people, Elsie Jones, in collaboration with the Western Regional Aboriginal Land Council.' (Introduction)

'Janet Mathews will be greatly missed. The Institute will remember her in many ways, but her greatest legacy to it and to Aboriginal people is twofold: her collection of stories, word lists, and songs that appear on the 392 field tapes made between 1964 and 1976, and her friendships with Aboriginal people—especially Jimmie Barker, whose remarkable life story resulted in one of the best selling books ever published by the Institute, The Two Worlds of Jimmie Barker.' (Introduction)