Various designs were carved on the chest arms or back of the Kamilaroi boys years ago. These were known as ‘ mombarai ‘ or drawings that identified their family or clan. It is possible these simple designs could have been carved on trees as well ? Not randomly like graffiti but more like a message to others ? Communication by message stick or stone involved marks and symbols understood by many clans over large areas. Simple cuts could have been left on debarked trees as well showing where a certain group of people were headed. Tracks are very hard to follow after strong winds or a storm so these ‘drawings’ would last longer… even until now in some cases ?
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Hi Jane, I stumbled across this page and was wondering if you have anymore information on this? Im a Gamilaroi and looking for a deeper understanding. Thanks
Im not sure what happened to that post Andrew it seems to have got mangled? I will send what I have saved in my documents to your email and try to fix it up later ….Among the Euahlayi, burial practice could differ.
Dunbar (1943) recorded a burial in the fully flexed
position: a grave was dug and the body was placed sitting
and leaning backwards with the face toward the east or
sunrise. The face was bent forward with the chin
touching the chest. The individual performing the burial
packed the body in position with sticks and earth.
Weapons and other personal property of the deceased,
and cylindro-conical stones shaped by the women, were
placed in the grave at the feet of the corpse. Bark was
then placed over the corpse and the depression filled in.
The grave was not fenced but just left as a mound
of earth which was identified by the presence of cylindroconical
stones or slightly concavo-convex, oval kopi
grave markers. In some cases a piece of bark was
removed from a tree south of the grave and marks similar
to the cicatrices on the chest of the deceased were cut
into the bark (Dunbar, 1943:146). Dunbar also recorded
that burial places could be seasonal camp sites or camp
sites isolated by floods and sites adjacent to or on sand
hills. After a burial ceremony the huts of the original
camp were burnt and a new camp was established.