big man
Language:
Australian:
Mr-ree ml-la
English JS Main:
big man
English:
Feats of bodily strength were tried, and their inferiority was glaring. One of our party [65] lifted with ease two of them from the ground, in spite of their efforts to prevent him; whereas in return, no one of them could move him: they called him Mr-ree Ml-la (a large strong man). Compared with our English labourers, their muscular power would appear very feeble and inadequate.
Category:
human classification
Source:
Tench
Page:
185
Line:
16
Respelt:
mari mala
Part of speech:
phrase 2
Date:
1793
Meaning Clue:
"Mr-ree ml-la" mari mala = "they called him Mr-ree Ml-la (a large strong man)" big man : Tench [:185:16] [BB]
Source Details:
Captain Watkin Tench: A Narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay (1789) and A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson 1788-1791 (1793): Republished at Sydney’s First Four Years (1961), Library of Australian History
Comment:
To heighten the good humour which pervaded both parties, we began to play and romp with them. Feats of bodily strength were tried, and their inferiority was glaring. One of our party [65] lifted with ease two of them from the ground, in spite of their efforts to prevent him; whereas in return, no one of them could move him: they called him (a large strong man). Compared with our English labourers, their muscular power would appear very feeble and inadequate.