Volume II Part 25 (1/2)

TRANSLATION.

Spear his forehead, Spear his breast, Spear his liver, Spear his heart, Spear his loins, Spear his shoulder, Spear his thigh, Spear his ribs, etc. etc. etc.

Thus rapidly enumerating all the parts in which they intend to strike their enemies.

It is very rarely that any remarkable circ.u.mstance occurs but songs are composed in order to perpetuate the remembrance of it. For example, when Miago, the first native who ever quitted Perth, was taken away in H.M.

surveying vessel Beagle in 1838, the following song was composed by a native and was constantly sung by his mother (at least so she says) during his absence, and it has ever since been a great favourite:

s.h.i.+p bal win-jal bat-tar-dal gool-an-een, s.h.i.+p bal win-jal bat-tar-dal gool-an-een.

etc. etc. etc. etc.

Whither is that lone s.h.i.+p wandering, Whither is that lone s.h.i.+p wandering, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Again, on Miago's safe return, the song given below was composed by a native after he had heard Miago recount his adventures:

Kan-de maar-o, kan-de maar-a-lo, Tsail-o mar-ra, tsail-o mar-ra-lo.

etc. etc. etc. etc.

Unsteadily s.h.i.+fts the wind-o, unsteadily s.h.i.+fts the wind-o, The sails-o handle, the sails-o handle-ho.

I will now add several other songs which are composed in different dialects; these will serve both as examples of their metre and style of poetry and as specimens for the purpose of comparison with the songs of the natives of the other portions of the continent.

Number 1.

One voice: Djal-lee-lee-na.

Chorus: Mong-a-da, mong-a-da, Mong-a-da, mong-a-da, Mong-a-da, mong-a-da.

One voice: Eee-dal-lee-na.

Chorus: Wun-a-da, wun-a-da, Wun-a-da, wun-a-da, Wun-a-da, wun-a-da.

etc. etc. etc.

They all join in the chorus of:

Mong-a-da, etc. etc.

Wun-a-da, etc. etc.

And clap their hands in time to the air to which this chorus is sung, so that the effect produced is very good. I am unable to render this song into English.

Number 2.

Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a, Woor-ar wur-rang-een, Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a, Woor-ar wur-rang-een Dow-al nid-ja kotiay bool-a, Woor-ar wur-rang-een.

These lines are repeated three times more, and then follows the chorus:

Chorus: Ban-yee wur-rang-een, Koong-arree, wur-rang-een, Ban-yee wur-rang-een, Koong-arree, war-rang-een.

etc. etc. etc.

Number 3.