Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/217

 UTTERANCE OF EMOTION BY SOUND. 143 "Porluna"—this means "Oh, children!" and is a common expression of wonder and amazement. "Tyin embe!"—this expression is too obscene to be translatable; nevertheless, it is a very common interjection of astonishment amongst the old blacks. The word "koh" is used to attract attention or to call out to a person to come. It is uttered long, and the o very round. The same word "koh" uttered short, is a sort of note of interrogation, and is used in asking a question. The h is strongly aspirated. A sort of cry used to attract attention may be written "ngaaaah"—the h strongly aspirated. It must be understood, however, that in all these cases our letters only give an approximation to the sound; it must be heard in order to be understood. Some of the old women, by way of salutation on meeting a friend, will say, "Kaw, kah, kah, kah." It sounds very much like an old crow. All the natives, old and young, when they are hurt, cry out, "Nanghai, nanghai, nanghai!"" My father, my father, my father!" or else, "Nainkowa, nainkowa, nainkowa!""My mother, my mother, my mother!" Males usually say the former, females the latter, although not invariably so. It is ludicrous to hear an old man or woman with a grey head, whose parents have been dead for years, when they hurt themselves cry like children and say "nanghai" or "nainkowa," as the case may be. The Narrinyeri are skilful in the utterance of emotion by sound. They will admire and practice the corrobery (ringbalin) of another tribe merely for the sounds of it, although they may not understand a word of the meaning. They will learn it with great appreciation if it seems to express some feelings which theirs does not. They may not be able to define the feelings, but yet this is the case. The following extract from my journal will illustrate their aptitude for expressing feeling merely by sound. Of course I am aware that in this they are like most savage tribes:  "7th March, 18. S died the day before yesterday. At the request of the natives I read the burial service at her grave to-day. At the funeral I could