King Togee was the leader of his local tribe, a big strong man standing over 6 feet tall. Back in the 1850s he was speared by a man from another tribe.
Is that a Coolibah tree beside the abandoned house? Every Australian knows about Coolibah trees because the bush ballad Waltzing Matilda is nigh on our unoffical national anthem but most of us live nowhere near the inland where they grow. Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a Coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
What does that bit on the sign say about traditional burials?
ReplyDeleteImmediately after burying the dead bodies the tribal people deserted the area; this was the procedure in all cases, as they believed that the spirit of the departed would haunt them.
DeleteAround the burial ground the traditional people carved symbols in tree trunks to show approaching tribal grous that they were entering another's country along with warning off people from tribal burial grounds.
Some of these marking can be seen on :Butheroe" between Mudgee and Coolah roads.
How interesting. Love reading your answer as I know so little about Aboriginal traditions.
ReplyDelete