BY HERMANN B. RITZ, M.A. 83, 



D. would be, in plain language, " Lo ! with might 

 runs the man ; my heel is swift like fire, my 'heel indeed 

 is swift like fire. Come thou and run like a man ; a very 

 man, a great man, a man who is a hero ! Hurrah !" 



W. is in meaning a combination of M. and D., thus : 

 — " With might runs the fire ; my heel is like fire, my 

 foot is like fire ; come thou, run like a bird ; thou art 

 indeed a great man ; a man indeed, a great man, a hero ! 

 Hurrah !" 



Milligan says that these verses were sung as an ac- 

 companiment to a native dance, in honour of a great 

 chief. 



This explanation v/as very helpful in my search after 

 the meaning of the song. The rhythm is clearly 

 .marked, and the repetitions are very suggestive. 



Walker says that this song was popular among all 

 the Aboriginal tribes, but that he had not obtained its 

 meaning, as it was by them involved in some mystery. 



The fact that the song exists in different dialects 

 makes it most valuable to us. It is quite probable that 

 this song was connected with some important tribal 

 ceremonies, and would not be willingly explained to 

 strangers. 



May it not rather have been fhe " Pope.la Song,'' 

 " The Song of the Mighty One," than a " Popular 

 Song " ? 



Davies says, " I cannot translate it, nor, could I do 

 so, is the subject very select?" 



This presents a charming specimen of sly humour. 

 See how neatly he escapes any inquiry as to the mean- 

 ing of the song, by suggesting t'hat it would not be quite 

 proper to speak of such things in polite society ! 



We, at all events," have avoided any impropriety in 

 our rendering, and seem to have reconstructed one 

 scene of the lite of Old Tasmania; in imagination 

 chiefly, and wit'h a due sense of the defectiveness of our 

 knowledge ; but still, in the hope that we have found 

 the way that will, in time and after arduous and sympa- 

 thetic efforts, enable us to hear once more " The sound 

 of a voice that is still." 



