SENSITVE CONTENT Esoteric - Dalabon Sketch Dictionary by Dr La Mont West, Jr

The item is a copy manuscript sent to Elkin by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIAS). 

La Mont West writes that the dictionary was compiled soley for use by the Northern Territory Administration Welfare Branch for use in the Beswick Creek-Katherine Valley area only and not for publication in its present form, and care should be exercised in its use as it contains 449 terms that "are or may be considered secret and ritually dangerous by Central Arnhem Land men."

Based upon partial analysis of the following corpora of date:

1. 4,267 entries drawn from field notes, 1961-1962;
2. 1155 entries drawn from the work of Capell at Roper Mission, Mainoru, Tandandjal, Beswick Creek, 1941-1952;
3. Less than 50 entries drawn from publications by Elkin, the Berndts, checked with Beswick Creek informants in 1961;
4. Less than 20 entries drawn from W Arndt, 1962.

Languages in the dictionary include: Dalabon, Jawoyn, Rembarrnga, Mayali, Gunej, Buan, ritharrngu, Gupapuyngu, Patjtjamalh, Djambarrpuyngu, Ngarinyman, Wardaman, Dhay'yi, Djinang, Alawa, Djinba, Manaraji, Ngalakgan, Yarman, Dhayyi, and Kuninjku.

Moieties: Yirritja and Dua.