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).
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.
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
This book is divided into five chapters:
I. Origins
II. Animal Myths
III. Religion
IV. Social
V. Personal Myths
The author's introduction to this collection of narratives told by Aboriginal people.
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 author talks about the how the Australian Aboriginals have a legend that explains natural phenomena.
The story of a man called The Mar Kar Ree and his trail of looking for a wife.
this story is a continuation after the Eagle forced the Water Rat to give up his secret of fire.
'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)
With title: What Some Aboriginal Carvings Mean
Unaipon's introduction has been entered as a footnote.
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.
This story illustrates the moral lessons taught in the legends of the frogs.
This short story is about the Kinie Ger (the native cat) a ruthless killer and enemy of other native creatures.
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.
A story about the tortoise and his conflict with the Eaglehawk.
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.
'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)
Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines
1924-1925
(Manuscript version)x401148
Z900600
1924
selected work
prose
dreaming story
(taught in 1 units)
Originally written in the 1920s by David Unaipon. The original work was edited by W. Ramsay Smith and published in 1930 credited to W. Ramsay Smith as Myths & Legends of the Australian Aboriginals, without acknowledgement of Unaipon's authorship. Shoemaker and Muecke republished it in 2001 under Unaipon's name and original title.
AustLit uses the original Unaipon title as the main title showing Ramsay Smith's title as an alternative title on those editions published prior to the restitution edition.
Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines
1924-1925
6043804
1924
single work
prose
Indigenous story
This manuscript contains the original works of David Unaipon's Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines.
This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon.
This review of William Ramsay Smith's Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals makes no mention of David Unaipon.
