LANGUAGE, ETC., ABORIGINES OF PORT STEPHENS. 



109 



14. The interrogative is expressed by means of "wee-yuh," e.g. 

 Wee-yuh mur'-rook, is it good? 



This word appears to be used in asking a question concerning 

 the quality of anything. There are other words which are used 

 to inquire concerning time, manner, place, etc., which will be 

 found in the vocabulary in the succeeding pages. 



15. Numerals. — The numerals are really only two, viz. "wok'- 

 kool," one, and "bul-16-ra," two ; but by compounding these the 

 Kutthung is able to count as far as five. Any greater number 

 than five he expresses by "doocalla," a great many. 



Vocabulary op the Kutthung Language. 

 The words in the following vocabulary have all been spelt 

 phonetically and the translation of them into English is given as 

 literally as possible. In some instances the English word will be 

 found to have two equivalents in the Kutthung. This I think 

 has been caused through tribes coalescing, as their numbers 

 dwindled away and tribal boundaries were effaced before the march 

 of civilization. By this means each new addition to the tribe 

 would inevitably mean a slight addition to the language. The 

 reader will please note that "d" and "t" are interchangeable as 

 also are "g" and "k." 



Kutthung. 



English equivalent. 



Kutthung. 



English equivalent. 



Bee-yar, father 



Ber'-ri-ma, the teal 



Boor'-I, baby boy 



Bro6-ee-gee, to swim 



Boor'-i Tco-kal, 6oy (lit. big baby) 



Broo-ee-gal'-it, whip snake 



Bit-thee, old woman 



Bung-hi, to-day, now 



But-tong', black 



Buk-oo-ee, meat 



Bur-ra, white or light coloured 



Bud-gee la, bit (past tense) 



But'too, smoke 



But-tig-yee', wattle tree 



Bur'-ri, earth,, territory belonging 



Bur-roo-ma, mahogany 



Bin'-dul, beard [to a tribe 



Be-lorn', stingaree 



Bee, the wrist 



Bun-yee, to strike 



Buk-a, the knee 



Bunn-yil'-la, struck 



Bar-ra-kun' returning boomerang 



Boo-ba, to lie down 



Bur-rid', the wallaby 



Bur'-rung, red 



Book'-ut, bandicoot 



Bo6-mer-i, grass tree 



Bul'-boo, kangaroo rat 



But-tee-yuk, white ant 



