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y separately published work icon Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines single work   prose   Indigenous story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1924... 1924 Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This manuscript contains the original works of David Unaipon's Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines.

Notes

  • This manuscript may contain culturally sensitive words or descriptions, some of which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts.
  • This is a typescript copy of Manuscript held at the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
  • Contents: Unaipon, David - Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, 1924-25.

Contents

* Contents derived from the 1924-1925 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Preface, David Unaipon , single work essay (p. [])
Aboriginal Folklore, David Unaipon , 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)

(p. [ ])
Aborigines: Their Traditions and Customs Where did They Come From?, David Unaipon , 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, David Unaipon , single work oral history
Note:

This loose leaf section is numbered 2:1-5.

Shows hand written corrections.

Belief of the Aborigine in a Great Spirit, David Unaipon , single work oral history
Note: this loose leaf section is numbered 1-3
Confusion of Tongue, David Unaipon , single work oral history
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 4:1-3.
Fishing, David Unaipon , single work oral history
Note: This loose leaf section is numbered 5:1-17
The Flood and Its Result: Berrwerina Tribe Darling River, David Unaipon , 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), David Unaipon , 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, David Unaipon , 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.

Love Story of the Mar Rallang, David Unaipon , 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.

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, David Unaipon , 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.

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, David Unaipon , 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, David Unaipon , 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.

Sport, David Unaipon , 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, David Unaipon , 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.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

      1924-1925 .
      Extent: [314] leaves (bound)p.
      Description: Photocopy of microfilm printout

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
Last amended 31 Jan 2019 10:35:59
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