IDNO

P.85735.ACH2

Description

On Catalogue Card for duplicate print P.232.ACH1: “Fishing (Eucalyptus populifolia on R.)”

An Aboriginal woman fishing using a net attached to small opening of a dam constructed from upright sticks with vines? woven through. This happens in April when the snow in the high alpine mountains start to melt and make the Murray River flood. A net is placed in the small hole which can not be seen at night. Towards the morning the net is filled with fish. The scene also shows an old woman swinging a piece of wood around her head, thus producing a loud sound. The belief exists that the sound will hinder the devil from taking their fish, but actually it is probably an invitation for distant friends to come and eat fish. The white jagged chalk banks indicate the lower reaches of the Murray River. The scene also includes thirteen other women engaging in various domestic tasks and child care. In the background are three shelters constructed from vegetation. On the right is a Eucalyptus populifolia (Popolus) in flower and which produces the edible Psylla and provides Aboriginals with sugar, which tastes like manna. [See Blandowski 1862, JD 23/8/2007]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Victoria; Darling River; Murray River

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Muetzel, Gustav [Artist]

Collector / Expedition

von Blandowski, William [Blandowski Expedition to the Lower Murray River, 1857]

Date

1861; 1862

Collection Name

Haddon Collection

Source

?Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.85724. to P.85811. were tied together in a bundle.

P.85635. to P.85723. were tied together in a bundle.

CUMAA Exhibition: P.84112.ACH2 to P.85713.ACH2 were on display in the SSL as part of the Brook Andrew ‘The Island’ Exhibition, 24th June - 27th September 2008. [JD 25/6/2008]

Bibliographical Reference: Blandowski, William von, 1862. Australien in 142 Photographischen (Unpublished), with the caption “Aborigines of Australia, Plate 198. William v. Blandowski, Australia. Fishing. Eucalyptus populifolia”. The image is signed “G.M.61”. [JD 23/8/2007]

Bibliographical Reference: For discussion of authorship see: Allen, H. 2006. Authorship and ownership in Blandowski's Australien in 142 Photographischen Abbildungen. Australasian Historical Archaeology 24:31-37. [Jane Lydon, Monash University, 8/7/2009]

Publication: Blandowski, W. 1862. Australien in 142 Photographischen Ahbildungen. Gustav Neumann, Gleiwicz. Edited by Harry Alien. Translated from the German by Lillian Barton. Translation Copyright: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2007. with the caption:
“40. In April the Murray River starts to flood as the snow in the high alpine mountains melts. This is when the good season for the Aborigines starts- The side arms of the river are closed off with sticks, just leaving a small hole in which they place a net- This net can not be seen at night. Towards morning it is usually filled with fish- When they have a big catch and mature woman swings a piece of wood on a string around her head which makes a loud sound. The Aborigines believe that with the help of the sound they can hinder the devil from taking their fish; more likely is that it is an invitation for distant friends to come and eat fish. In the background one can see the camp; the 300’ high, white jagged chalk banks indicate the lower reaches of the Murray River- The vegetation consists of Eucalyptus populifolia which, at this time, produces the edible, Psylla which provides the Aborigines with adequate sugar. It tastes similar to manna. Drawn by G. Mützel.” [WV 27/3/2009]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 23/8/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Aboriginal Visual Histories Project, Monash University. [Wonu Veys 27/3/2009]