spirit in Australian Aborigines: the languages and customs of several tribes of aborigines in the western district of Victoria, Australia

Record context

Record ID

3246

Source

Internet Archive

Publication

Australian Aborigines: the languages and customs of several tribes of aborigines in the western district of Victoria, Australia; James Dawson

Published

1881 public-domain western Victorian ethnographic source exposed through an exact Internet Archive item

Narrative type

Retellings and Adaptations

Public-text label

spirit

Archive period

Gold Rush Colonial

Location

Western District, VIC (VIC): B

State or territory

VIC

Source voice

Source Grounded Section Record

Publicness

Public Text Item

Source-grounded excerpt

and has conveyed its spirit to the clouds ; 52 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. and if a meteor is seen about the same time, it is believed to be fire taken up with it. Should fresh grass be found near the cave, when no recent burial has taken place, it indicates that some one has been murdered, and no person will venture near it till the grass decays or is removed. Witches appear always in the form of an old woman, and are called kuin’gnat yambateetch, meaning ‘solitary, or ‘wandering by themselves” No one knows where they come from or where they go to; and they are seldom seen unless at great meetings. They are dressed in an old ragged.

The excerpt is presented as public-source context. Terminology belongs to the cited source and may be historical, contested, culturally specific, or outdated.

Browse this record

Related public records

1. spirit in A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia#20921842 / Internet Archive / WA / Spirit-Person Narrativesof mutual eommunieation in all public matters, wlielhcr of explanation, negotiation, exam i nation, or prosecution. At length, in the year 183Q, that ahle and talented ofBcer, Lieutenant (now Captain) G. Grey, Governor…
2. spirit in A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia#20941842 / Internet Archive / WA / Spirit-Person Narrativesreviously scored are now marked afresh, and more deeply, to record that an atonement has been effected. The grave is regularly visited during a certain period, to see that it is not disturbed or profaned ; and for a lon…
3. spirit in A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia#20951842 / Internet Archive / WA / Spirit-Person Narrativespots. It is considered deadly, and is much dreaded by the natives ; but although several dogs have died sud- denly from the bite of a snake, no white person has hitherto suffered more than a slight inconvenience from te…
4. spirit in A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia#20961842 / Internet Archive / WA / Spirit-Person Narratives(K.G.S.) A small species of kangaroo. KwiLAS — (K.G.S.) A species of ant. KviELA, luliji.— (K.G.S.) A speclea ol cttaos.t\\i3n KW[ 64 Kr-i. KwmiN — (K.G.S.) The Dili of HBpecies ofiomia. KwoaoTH, tuisf. — Soul; iipirit,…
5. spirit in How did the Natives of Australia become Acquainted with the Demigods and Daemonia, and with the Superstitions of the Ancient Races?#21131854 / Internet Archive / Spirit-Person Narrativesd shews that Ophic worship prevailed in the wilds of America as well as in the wildernesses of Australia. For an account of this serpent mound in Western America, see "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley." The n…
6. spirit in How did the Natives of Australia become Acquainted with the Demigods and Daemonia, and with the Superstitions of the Ancient Races?#21141854 / Internet Archive / Spirit-Person Narrativess it, then they proceed fur- ther: if it gives an affirmative, the inquest is then continued there. It is believed that the affirmative is given when the W. A. Miles on Demigods and Dcemonia. 17 corpse is moved round, w…