Terms of Abuse.
The terms of abuse used by the natives are strong. I have made careful enquiries respecting these, and the results show that in abusing each other the Aborigines are at least the equals of Europeans. Mr. John Green collected for me several of the phrases used by the natives of the Yarra. One will say to another Booqurring mane-mane ngabedejew nggi mila Booqurring kianto ngalim-ngalim boongarboon—"That fellow over there is very sulky with me for nothing. It is himself that is in fault." One will tell another that he is "a liar" (Merrinam moom); a "great liar" (Marangi); a "rascal" (Keern); a "terrible rascal" (Tagaraktorong); and the reply may be possibly "You big eye" (Taong-gala); "You crooked eyed" (Wantarra mrring); "You big-headed, skin and bone fellow, you!" (Tanggoola kaong tewrong kalk kalk bornen torong enerop warr karwan); "You big dirty devil!" (Torong koo-nog Ngarrong torrong); or, "Look at that fellow, he is like a dog!" (Werre neen mane tonda Yerrangano).
A woman will accuse another of unchastity: she will say, "Tagilla narramoom;" or, "Karin na bibol mane boorrnoonto;'" and she could say nothing worse if she were giving evidence in a police court against an enemy.
The Rev. Mr. Bulmer, in reply to my enquiries, writes thus:—"When the natives were angry, and abused each other, they used epithets similar to those of the very lowest class of Europeans; not so bad on the side of blasphemy, but worse on the side of filth. No doubt the reason of this is that the Aboriginal has no superior spirit to blaspheme. As you desire specimens of the epithets used, I give them, as, no doubt, it is necessary, in writing of the Aboriginals, to give both sides of their character. In their mild way of scolding, when the cause of quarrel is not very serious, they generally confine themselves to calling nick-names, or they refer to some peculiarity of person, whether deformity or otherwise. It is amusing to hear them commence at the head of the person they are scolding, and end at the toe-nails. Thus they will call a person Poork gatti (big head); Barrat poork (bald head); Barrat wree (squint eye); Barrat birndang (bad arm); Barrat jerran (bad leg); Booloon gatty (belly big); Barrat jane (bad foot); Karlo tooloot (crane neck); Barrat nark (crooked back); and so in like manner refer to all the members of the body. I may remark with regard to the word Barrat—which I have translated 'squint,' 'bad,' and 'crooked'—that it is used by the blacks in all these senses, and may perhaps be equivalent to 'deformed.'"[1]
There are other forms of abuse:—
Itemque sæpissime, ut narrat Rev. J. Bulmer, de membris pudendis loquuntur; et rationibus vituperandi tetterrimi fœdissimique sunt.
In rem longius procedunt quum aliquid de re gravius agitur. Tunc quidem omnem colluviem ex memoria collectam in adversarios sine pudore sine
- ↑ The natives of the islands of the Pacific abuse each other much in the same terms. One will tell another that he is ugly, has cross eyes, has a big mouth, &c.; and an antagonist will retaliate by calling out "big eyes," "crooked legs," and the like.—See Wild Life amongst the Pacific Islanders, by Lamont, p. 309.
