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Correspondence Between Sydney May And F.J Watson Concerning Aboriginal Place Names (ITM489477)
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Sept 11th 1940,
Dear Mr. May,
I am returning, to you the print of the Glass House Mountain and the sketch of a flying opossum, of both of which I now have copies.
Perhaps you would care to retain them in connection with my correspondence in re. the meanings of the aboriginals' names of the said mountain.
Yours faithfully FJWatson
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Sketch of flying squirrel in a biting attitude.
Chiber-kaiyathan.
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(Image of Glasshouse Mountain with car in foreground) GLASSHOUSE MOUNTAIN
On the left hand top & side of the mountain may be seen the form of a flying squirrel bestriding the crest with its tail tapering off to the extreme left.
FJW
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(newspaper clipping of Glasshouse Mountain with a train engine and car in the foreground) Tibrogargan, which rears its bulk to the sky, stands like some giant sentinel in close proximity to the railway and road.
The engine smoke hides part of the tail of the squirrel.
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"Nyleta", Union Street, Toowong, October 1st, 1940.
Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Qld Place Names Committee, University of Queensland,
Dear Sir,
Relative to the meanings of the place names Kuranda and Millaa Millaa and of the spelling of the name of the ti-tree, or tea-tree, referred to at the last meeting of the above Committee, I beg to present the following information.
Re. Kuranda -- On the authority of E.Cowley, Kuranda, vide F.M.Bailey's "Queensland Flora, 1899" ,kuranda is the name of an indigenous, acorus leafed plant, Helmholtzia acorifolia, whose habitat is Kuranda as well as other northern places. From the description of this plant with its long, sword-like leaves and its pyramidal, long panicled flower head, it must be a conspicuous feature of bush still life which would suggest its name as a place name.
Re. -- Millaa Millaa-- This name is, no doubt, a corruption of millai millai, the native name of an indigenous species of oleaster, a shrub or tree, Elaeagnus latifolia, whose habitat, vide Bailey's "Queensland Flora" is the Atherton Table-land.
Re. Titree or teatree, which name has been commonly applied to various species of melaleuca or paper-bark trees-- it has been recorded (I regret that I cannot recall the authority) that the members of an early Australian exploring party suffered from scurvy and that, for the relief thereof, a decoction or "tea" ,made from the leaves of the tree ,was experimented with.
Also, vide Bailey's "Queensland Flora" , according to --Palmer, the young leaves of the white-flowered tea-tree were crushed in water and the water was drunk for the cure of head-ache, colds etc.
I am therefore of opinion that the vernacular name should be tea-tree.
(I may mention)--
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I may mention that, in three S.E. Queensland distrinct native languages the names of the white-flowered teatree (Melaleuca leucadendron) are, respectively, (phonetically spellednamboor, ngoodoor and woodhooroo.
Incidentally, I might mention that "tee" is the Kabi (Wide Bay) name for the tallow-wood tree (Eucalyptus microcorys).
I have not committed the names Kuranda and Millaa Millaa to the usual forms as knowledge of the names is not personal.
Yours faithfully FJWatson Associate Member.
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Grosvenor Street, Toowong, S.W.1. August 27th, 1940.
Mr. Sidney, May, Hon. Secretary, Queensland Place Names Committee, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Dear Sir,
May I be permitted to point out that two errors occur in Bulletin No.8!
Under the place names derived from "buna" the botanical name, Eucalyptus pilularia appears. Buna, the red bloodwood tree is Eucalyptus corymbosa, while Eucalyptus pilularia is the black-butt tree.
The name, Woolloongaba, is shown as if derived from wongaree. Wongaree is the Logan River name for the whiptailed wallaby, but the local (Brisbane River) name for the said animal is wallon and the place name is thus Waĺlon-gúbā, the vowel u being a short one and the final a long.
Yours faithfully, FJWatson Associate Member.
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18th July, 1940.
Mr. F. J. Watson, Grosvenor Street, TOOWONG. S.W.1.
Dear Sir,
At the last annual Meeting of the Queensland Place Names Committee on the 10the July, you were elected an Associate Member of the Committee. I enclose a copy of the Constitution, which will show you that it is an honorary position offered because of the great help you have been, and I hope will continue to be to the Committee.
Yours faithfully,
Hon. Secretary.
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Grosvenor Street, Toowong, S.W.1. 12th July, 1940_
Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Place Names Committee, University of Queensland.
Dear Sir,
In reply to your request of 11th instant, I shall be pleased to meet you at the University of 10_15 a.m. on Wednesday next. In the meantime I will try to get the meanings of the names you mentioned in your letter.
Yours faithfully FJWatson.
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Grosvenor Street, Toowong, S.W.1. July 10th, 1940
Dear Mr. May,
With regard to your inquiry re. the origin of the place name Saraba, I do not know whether this place was named after any of the Franklin family. Mr. E Franklin's homestead is named Sarah Vale but it was so named in Mr. Franklin's fathers time, many years ago..
I wonder if you could do me a favour in connection with my research in S.E.Queensland aboriginal languages and place names.
Would you inquire of the University Libraries as to whether he could give me permission to see copies of the R S. proceedings, Lauterer's aboriginal languages of E.Australia; J.Shirle's vocabulary of Gowrburra and Coolabunia ( Advancement of sicence Vol. 6, and G.Watkins, proceedings, R.S. Vol. 8.
If you could get me permission to see this literature I should be much obliged.
Yours faithfully. FJWatson