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This 1930s publication describes the legends of the Australian Aborigines located in the southeast corner of Australia near the Murray River. It covers a range of narratives from the creation stories to those of witchcraft, and explanations of landmarks. (Source: Preface).
Notes
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The stories that appear in this book were first written by David Unaipon who wrote the original manuscript called Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines in the 1920s. William Ramsay Smith later published the work is his name in England, without acknowledging Unaipon.
From 1996-1998, Adam Shoemaker and Stephen Muecke discovered the appropriation of Unaipon's work, and arranged for the copyright and ownership to be legally transferred back to Unaipon's family in Australia.
Shoemaker and Muecke republished Unaipon's original manuscript with Unaipon as the author, and used the original title Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines.
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Dedication: To the Memory of
Greatly Valued and Revered Friends
Principal Sir William Turner
and
Professor D. J. Cunningham
with who I was privileged to be a fellow-Worker
in Australian Anthropological research
this regardful offering is dedicated
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This book is divided into five chapters:
I. Origins
II. Animal Myths
III. Religion
IV. Social
V. Personal Myths
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Please be aware that this book may contain images, artwork, perspectives and stories from people who are now deceased. It also contains words, terms or descriptions which may be culturally sensitive and are considered inappropriate today, but which reflect the period in which it was written.
Contents
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Preface: W.R.S.,
single work
The author's introduction to this collection of narratives told by Aboriginal people.
-
Aborigines, Their Traditions and Customs : Where Did They Come From?,
single work
oral history
(p. 17-22)
Note: With title: The Customs and Traditions of Aboriginals
-
The Story of the Creation,
W. Ramsay Smith
,
Kardin-nilla
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
According to this story, the sun and the moon, who are female and the morning star who is male, were deities who gave origin to the human race, and when humans died they become stars in the sky.
- The Coming of Mankind, single work prose (p. 31-58)
- The Peewee's Story, single work prose (p. 41-45)
-
Immortality,
David Unaipon
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
The author talks about the how the Australian Aboriginals have a legend that explains natural phenomena.
Note: With title: The Birth of the Butterflies -
Confusion of Tongue,
single work
oral history
(p. 62-67)
Note: With title: The Confusion of Tongues
-
The Water Rat Who Discovered the Secret of Fire and How it was Taken from Him by the Eagle Hawk,
single work
prose
dreaming story
(p. 67-69)
Note: With title: The Discovery and the Loss of Secret Fire
-
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: With title: The Moon -
A Wonderful Bun Bar Rang (Lizard),
single work
prose
dreaming story
this story is a continuation after the Eagle forced the Water Rat to give up his secret of fire.
Note: With title: The Wonderful Lizard -
The Gherawhar (Goanna),
David Unaipon
,
single work
prose
dreaming story
'This is a story belonging to the Murrumbidgee River tribe, and they associate this locality as the first settled home of the Gherawhar (Goanna...) after leaving their temporary home at Shoalhaven, and before...to other parts of Australia. When they occupied this country there was no flowing Murrumbidgee River. The only river then was the... which was formed by the ancient Pendie, a fish commonly called the Murray Cod.' (David Unaipon, 1924-25)
Note: With titles: The Lazy Goannas and What Happened to Them and How the Selfish Goannas lost their Wives -
Some Stories About My Race : What the Aborigines' Carvings Near Sydney Mean,
single work
oral history
(p. 91-93)
Note:
With title: What Some Aboriginal Carvings Mean
Unaipon's introduction has been entered as a footnote.
-
Why All the Animals Peck at the Selfish Owl : The Coming of the Light,
single work
prose
dreaming story
The story of the Bat tribe, who stood alone and did not enter into any disputes. However, one day the Chief of the bat tribe was forced to enter into a battle between the animal tribe and bird tribe.
Note: With title: The Selfish Owl -
Why Manparrie Jump into the Water,
single work
prose
dreaming story
This story illustrates the moral lessons taught in the legends of the frogs.
Note: With title: Why Frogs Jump Into The Water -
Aboriginal Legends. No. 1, Kinie Ger, the Native Cat,
single work
short story
Indigenous story
This short story is about the Kinie Ger (the native cat) a ruthless killer and enemy of other native creatures.
Note: With title: Kinie Ger, The Native Cat - The Porcupine and the Mountain Devil, single work prose (p. 105-110)
-
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: With title: The Green Frog -
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: With title: How the Tortoise Got his Shell -
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: With title: The Mischievous Crow and the Good he Did -
Whowie,
single work
prose
dreaming story
'The Whowie is the most dreadful animal in existence... he lived in the Riverina district, and would terrorise people in the far gone days.(Source: Whowie 1924)
Note: With title: Whowie
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Untitled
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 27 December 1930; (p. 4)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose -
Stone-Age Mythology
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 1 November vol. LXXIII no. 22485 1930; (p. 10)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon. -
The World Books Reviews - Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals by W. Ramsay Smith
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Mercury , 24 October vol. CXXXIII no. 19724 1930; (p. 3)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon. -
Shorter Notices
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 November no. 28981 1930; (p. 10)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work proseThis review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon.
-
Untitled
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The West Australian , 27 December 1930; (p. 4)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose -
Stone-Age Mythology
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 1 November vol. LXXIII no. 22485 1930; (p. 10)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon. -
The World Books Reviews - Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals by W. Ramsay Smith
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Mercury , 24 October vol. CXXXIII no. 19724 1930; (p. 3)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work prose This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon. -
Shorter Notices
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 November no. 28981 1930; (p. 10)
— Review of Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines 1930 selected work proseThis review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon.