ENPages That Mention ulla
Correspondence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander - Enquiries Native Words
page_0239
CHERBOURG MURGON
5th June, 1
BAS/CB Ref. 41 Gen'l.
Mr. Sydney May, University of Queensland, George Street, BRISBANE
Your Ref. SM:ARW
On receipt of your communication of the 2nd instant I placed your enquiry with a reliable native to interview any native who would be able to be of any assistance in furnishing information you require.
From what could be gleaned the suffix "illa" means "cold water", "ulla" means "camp" and the word "booringa" means "fire".
I regret that this is the best I can do to assist you.
Superintendent.
page_0240
CHERBOURG MURGON
5th June, 1
BAS/CB Ref. 41 Gen'l.
Mr. Sydney May, University of Queensland, George Street, BRISBANE
Your Ref. SM/ARW
On receipt of your communication of the 2nd instant I placed your enquiry with a reliable native to interview any native who would be likely to be of any assistance in furnishing information you require.
From what could be gleaned the suffix "illa" means "cold water", "ulla" "camp" and the word "booringa" means FIRE!
I regret that this is the best I can do.
Superintendent.
page_0244
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND GEORGE STREET BRISBANE
2nd May, 1951
No. :ARW
Dear Sir,
Messrs. Cummins & Campbell have written me that you could perhaps help. I have come to the conclusion that word ending with ulla, illa, ella, alla all refer to a large permanent stretch of water in a river bed that the blacks could rely on to hold out in a drought. For instance - Cunnamulla - there is a 15 mile reach in the Warrego R. very deep and never dry, Canna is some characteristic of the water or locality, others are -
Ulandilla - Ooline a species of Eucalyptus common only to that locality.
Womalilla - Womal a species of acacia not yet fully determined, growing there.
Sister M. Grace grew up in the locality and she said the acorns were cut and used to play checkers.
Chinchilla - there is a large deep lagoon about a mile from the town.
Dulbydilla - Dulby refers to the dark colour of the water due to staining by leaves.
I do not know Mulgallaa, Cunnamulla, Angellala, Muckadilla.
Then the following terminals - Boor inba, Duaringa, Bungainga, Cullin-a-ringa. "ringa" I think means "Waterhole" but is this correct? Lethbridge told me the meaning of Bungarin[torn] is not for polite company. Then there is Bindango, Martango [torn] Maranoa and Balonne.
Da, Ba, Gabba all mean "belonging to" or the place [torn] e.g. Woolloongabba - the place of the whiptail wallaby. Babin[torn] the place of lots of rain, Bundamba the place of stones (for ax[torn] and so on.
I would appreciate any information that you could give me on these words.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully, Sydney May