possum
Language:
Australian:
bitti [?] boucarri
English JS Main:
possum
English:
a ring taild
Category:
fauna: mammals
Sub-category:
possum
Source:
Bowman: Camden
Page:
22
Line:
151
Respelt:
bidi bugarayi
Part of speech:
phrase
Date:
1835
Meaning Clue:
‘bitti [?] boucarri’ bidi bugarai = ‘a ring taild’: Bowman: Camden [22:151] [DgR]
Source Details:
JAMES BOWMAN. Macarthur Papers, Miscellaneous Papers, A4286, CY reel 2358, pp.13-22, Mitchell Library, Sydney. c.1824-46
The first brief section of 18 words seems to be from the area around Surgeon James Bowman’s 12,000 acre property ’Ravensworth’ (Bulgara), between Singleton and Muswellbrook. ’Ashton’s Farm’ (Mong Mon gell) was close to Singleton. Bowman (1784-1846) married Elizabeth, second daughter of John and Elizabeth Macarthur of ’Camden Park’ (Benkennie).
[CY Reel 2358, frame 89]
The second, more extensive, section is presumably an Aboriginal vocabulary from the Camden area, compiled by a member of the Macarthur family, probably Bowman or perhaps William Macarthur.
Dr. James Kohen (personal comment 9 October 2001) believes the main list is the Darug language.
Transcribed by Keith V. Smith, October 2001