OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAXD. 171 



suppose) in the languages of tribes dwelling in remote 

 situations that render them not easily, if at all, under- 

 stood by each other.* Several individuals, particularly 

 G. A. Kobinson and his colleague, Anthony Cottrell, 

 are able to converse with tolerable fluency in the native 

 dialects, but I understand that no one has reduced the 

 language to writing, which is to be regretted. 



Some of the aboriginal terms have a very indefinite 

 and extended meaning, as in the words "chichiy" and 

 pomleh. The former means to be, to exist, to rest, sit 

 down or lie down, to stop, remain, dwell, sleep, and I 

 know not how many more significations. The latter is 

 used in a variety of ways, but more particularly where 

 art, or ingenuity, or an exertion of power is applied to 

 the production of anything. Everthing that has required 

 any sort of manipulation has been pomleh, i.e., made, or 

 put. together, or called into existence. 



It is also remarkable that the aborigines have 

 hardly any general terms. They have not even a term 

 to represent " trees" or "animals" generally. 



Aboriginal Song sung by the Women in chorus, by various 

 Tribes of the Natives of Van Diemens Land. 



Nlkkeh ningeh tibreh nickeh molly ga pollyla... 

 The married woman hunts the kangaroo and wallaby... 



Namii rykenneh trehgana .. 

 The emu runs in the forest ... 



Nabeh thinninneh trehgana. 



The boomer (kangaroo) runs in the forest. 



* It had been stated on a previous evening (by Dr. Lang) that Van 

 Diemen's Land had formerly been peopled with four nations, who each 

 held a particular portion of the island. This opinion must have originated 

 in the circumstance of his (Mr. Robinson's) having stated that he had 

 necessarily learned four languages in order to make himself understood by 

 the natives generally. But, as regarded nations, he could truly say that 

 the island of Van Diemen's Land was divided and subdivided by the 

 natives into districts, and contained many nations. Their divisions he 

 intended at some future period to point out, as he intended to execute a 

 map of the island on aboriginal principles, with the aborigines' names for 

 the mountains, rivers, and localities. Maria Island and Tasman's Pen- 

 insula had also been inhabited ; but the different tribes spoke quife a 

 different language ; there was not the slightest analogy between the 

 languages. — Report of the Public Meeting held on October I9£A, 1838, at 

 Sydney, containing the speech of G. A. Robinson : Reprinted from the 

 " Colonist " of 31st October, 1838 : Bath, 1865, p. 3. In another place 

 Mr. Robinson states that he had become acquainted with sixteen tribes. 



