36
THE ABORIGINES OF VICTORIA:
I first went among the Murray blacks they used the word Murra for the hand. A man died who was called Murra muto (or bad hand), having only one finger on each hand. The blacks then changed the word Murra for Mam bawja. This very practice would no doubt much assist, in the course of years, to change a language, while its construction remained the same."
Vocabulary.
| English. |
Murray. |
Gippsland. |
| Wind | Yarto | Krow-a-ro. |
| Summer | Buckara | Jelandook. |
| Winter | Koleya | Merbuck. |
| Star | Burley | Brael. |
| Moon | Pitoa | Nar-ran. |
| Gum-tree | Bernarra | Yhuro. |
| Wood | Yarrara | Mrit. |
| Fire | Nandaly | Towera. |
| Water | Nucko | Yarn. |
| Stone | Yarnda | Wallung. |
| Rain | Mockera | Willang. |
| Clouds | Ninda | Note. |
| Sky | Warrun. | |
| Old man | Wirto | Boredine. |
| Widower | Yackea | Marra walack. |
| Widow | Mambanya purno | Wow-a-lack. |
| Blackfellow | Waimbia | Kan-ni. |
| Earth | Murndy | Wrack. |
| Egg | Purty | Bo-yang. |
| Camp | Yap pera | Gambanja. |
| To-day | Kalpo | Jilli. |
| Yesterday | Illour | Book-ang. |
| I see | Wing-e-ato | Tin tacka. |
| To lie | Purragia | Jate bolan. |
| To steal | Karnmia | Dowan-dowan jal. |
| Come | Kowa | Gnowan jy. |
| Be quick | Wal-nal wea | Wothera. |
| Where | Windarra | Wunman. |
| Good | Kandelka | Lane. |
| None | Natha wary | Naat-bun. |
| Yes | Gna | Gna. |
| No | Mopa | Gnalko. |
| Small quantity | Kate wail yo | Tarlitban. |
| Plenty | Ko-ua | Ya ill. |
| News | Berlko | Lewin. |
| Sun-down | Hippy yhuko | Kote bill. |
| Bad | Thul-lagga | Din-din. |
| Wait | Balyarta | Targut. |
| Spirit or shadow | Uri-uri | Yambo. |
| Father | Kambea | Mungan. |
| Mother | Namarra | Yackan. |
| To die | Pucka | Tirtyga. |
| To perspire | Kangnarra | Blanda-blanda. |
| Give me | Gnokan danna | Kana watha. |
