[Journals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2) by George Grey]@TWC D-Link book
Journals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2)

CHAPTER 15
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He certainly could not have comprehended the words of the song, and therefore must have been affected by the music alone.
ADAPTATION OF DANCES TO THEIR SONGS.
The only accompaniment to their songs used in the southern parts of the continent is the clapping of hands or the beating of a short round stick against the flat board with which they throw their spears; in this latter case the rounded stick is held in its centre, between the fingers and thumb of the right hand, and its ends are alternately struck against the flat board in such a manner as to produce a rude kind of music, in time to the air they are singing.

Although this appears to be so very simple an instrument it requires some practice to beat the time accurately, and by young men who desire to have the reputation of being exquisites this is considered to be a very necessary accomplishment.
Some songs have a peculiar dance connected with them; this however is not always the case, and I have occasionally seen the same dance adapted to different songs.
Having given this general outline of their songs I will now add such a selection of them as will convey some idea of the character of their poetry, at the same time there is reason to believe that a good deal of it is traditional, and may date its origin from a very remote epoch.

Some of their dances have also a very peculiar mystical character about them, and these they very unwillingly exhibit in the presence of Europeans.
The following is a very favourite song of the natives to the north of Perth; it is sung to a wild and plaintive air, and relates to some action of a native who lived in that part of the continent, of the name of Warbunga.

A little boy, a descendant of his, is still living, who bears the same name.
SPECIMENS OF SONGS.

EXAMPLES OF SONGS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.
Kad-ju bar-dook, War-bung-a-loo, War-bung-a-loo.
Kad-ju bar-dook, War-bung-a-loo, War-bung-a-loo, War-bung-a-loo.
They then commence again, constantly repeating these words in the same order.
TRANSLATION.
Thy hatchet is near thee, Oh Warbunga, Oh Warbunga.
Thy hatchet is near thee, Warbunga-ho, Warbunga-ho, Warbunga-ho.
A favourite song of the natives in the district of the Murray in Western Australia is: Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a! Kar-ro yool, i, yool-a! etc.etc.


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