Page:Dawson - Australian aborigines (1900).djvu/17



country belonging to a tribe is generally distinguished by the name or language of that tribe. The names of tribes are taken from some local object, or from some peculiarity in the country where they live, or in their pronunciation; and when an individual is referred to, 'Kuurndit'—meaning 'member of'—is affixed to the tribal name, in the same way as the syllable 'er' is added to London, 'Londoner,' or 'ite' to Melbourne, 'Melbournite.' Thus the Mount Rouse tribe is called 'Kolor,' after the aboriginal name of the mountain; and a member of the tribe is called 'Kolor kuurndit.' The language of the Kolor tribe is called 'Chaap wuurong,' meaning 'soft' or 'broad lip,' in contradistinction to other dialects of harder pronunciation. The Kolor tribe and its language occupy the country commencing near Mount Napier, thence to German-town, Dunkeld, Wickliffe, Lake Boloke, down the Salt Creek to Hexham, to Caramut, and to starting point.

The Kuurn kopan noot tribe is known by the name of its language, 'Kuurn kopan noot,' meaning 'small lip,' or 'short pronunciation,' with 'Kuurndit' affixed for an individual of the tribe, who is called 'Kuurn kopan noot kuurndit.' Its territory, commencing in the middle of the Tarrone swamp, 'Yaluuk,' extends to Dunmore House dam. Upper Moyne Falls, Buunbatt, Goodwood main cattle camp, Marramok swamp, and round by South Green Hills station to starting point

The Hopkins tribe is called after its language, 'Pirt kopan noot,' and a member of the tribe 'Pirt pirt wuurong kuurndit;' and its language, which is very slightly different from the 'Chaap wuurong,' is called 'Pirt kopan noot,' meaning 'jump lip.' Its country is bounded by Wickliffe, Lake Boloke, Salt Creek, Hopkins Hill, Ararat, and Mount William.

The Spring Creek tribe is called 'Mopor,' and a member of it 'Mopor kuurndit' Its language is called 'Kii wuurong,' meaning 'Oh, dear! lip.' Its country, commencing at the swamp Marramok on Minjah station, extends