State Library of NSW
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Note The examples given fromthree localities long distances apart show somethingof the differences in aboriginal dialects.It will be seen however that "Cobbera", head,and Currajung or Kurrajong, bark fibre, arecommon to both Tilba Tilba and Port Stephen,while "Heeliman", a shield, and "Mundowie"a foot - or feet, appear to be common both toTilba and the Richmond River. But it isvery probable that these words may have beenimported by white people from the South tothe North Coast. In the early seventiesa few words such as "Budgeree", food, "Baal",no, and Corbon, big, were in every dayuse by the Northern River blacksbut, it is certain, did not belong to theirlanguage and were evidently introduced,from Sydney or some other of the earliest settlementsby white people who had picked them up from blacks in those localities.The native cry "Cooee" appears so far asI have been able to ascertain , to have beengeneral right along the East Coast if notinland. When giving the call, or cry, ablackfellow pitches his voice in rather a highkey which makes the call so penetrating andfar carrying. R.L.D
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