National Archives of Australia
CRS F1/0
Item 1955/320
CA 8618
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Census Data Lake Mackay Area June / July 1957
Report on Patrol to Lake Mackay Area June / July 1957
Part I Preliminary
Part II Diary
Part III General Comments
Part IV Census Details and Comments
Part V Geologist's Report
Part VI Botanist's Report
Part VII Medical Officer's Report
Part VIII Findings and Recommendations
Part IX Appreciation
Note Throughout this report the tribal name of PINTUBU
(or BINDABOO) has been dropped in favour of PINTUBI.
An explanation of this is given under General Comments
Part III.
Part I - Preliminary
Purpose of the Patrol - For some years, the Welfare Branch
has had knowledge of a group of Aboriginals residing between Mt.
Singleton and Lake Mackay west of Mt Doreen Station. This know-
ledge was derived chiefly through the owner of Mt Doreen Station,
Mr W Braitling, who in 1945 proceeded by horse plant into the
country west of his property to examine it for pastoral and mineral
potentialities. Several groups of natives were seen by Mr Braitling
on that occasion, and in latter years representatives from
the peoples have drifted in to Mt Doreen and Yuendumu.
From observations made by Mr Braitling in regard to
the nature of their tribal country it was felt that the native
peoples must suffer severe privations during and following dry
seasons. Accordingly planning was commenced in 1955 to organise
an Administration patrol to the area to assess :-
(1) The needs, if any, of the people, particularly
in so far as water and food is concerned.
(2) The health of the people.
(3) The possibilities of obtaining additional
waters, if required, by boring or well-
sinking.
(4) The mineral and pastoral potentialities
of the area.
Early Exploration - In 1873, Colonel Warburton penetrated to
the north of the area during his expedition from Alice Springs to
the Kimberly District of Western Australia. Lake Mackay, however,
was not discovered until 1930 when it was located and named by an
aerial expedition under the leadership of Captain Mackay later in
1933. Mr Michael Terry travelled extensively throughout the area
and north to Tanami by camel, and named many of the geographical
features. Mr Braitling's visit in 1945 would be, as far as can
be ascertained, the only other penetration into the area from the
N.T. side prior to this year's patrol.
Warburton's journal makes frequent mention of natives
(sometimes described as 'the enemy'), but his journey took him well
north of Lake Mackay and it is doubtful if these would have been
the forebears of the group who are the subject of this report.
Terry's map bears many native names of wells, soakages
etc so that it would seem that he made some contact with the
peoples of the area.
Mr Braitling, in 1945, contacted two large groups
who were friendly and led him to waters.
Composition of the Patrol - The Northern Territory Administration
received the full co-operation of the Commonwealth
Department of Health and the Bureau of Mineral Resources in
assembling the party, and the personnel comprised :-
Mr E C Evans Chief Welfare Officer, Northern Territory Administration (Leader)
Mr J P M Long Patrol Officer, Northern Territory, Administration
Mr G Chippendale Botanist, Northern Territory, Administration
Mr N Jones Geologist, Bureau of Mineral Resources
Dr J Hargrave Medical Officer, Department of Health
Mr T Cooper Driver, Northern Territory, Administration
In addition, Mr W Braitling owner of Mt Doreen
Station offered his valuable assistance and accompanied the patrol.
The vehicles used were :-
3 Long wheel base Landrovers
1 Short wheel base Landrover
1 International 3-ton 4 wheel drive truck
Mr Braitling travelled in his Unimog, a diesel
vehicle of special design for rough travelling.
A total of 200 gallons of water and 500 gallons of
petrol were transported by the 3-ton truck for the party's needs.
Experience gained during the patrol confirmed that these quantities
are minimum requirements for expeditions of this size into the
dry arid regions.
Four vehicles (including the Unimog) were equipped
with portable radio transceivers.
Part II - Diary
Daily Journal of Patrol to the Lake Mackay Area : June / July 1957.
The Welfare Branch party, comprising the Chief Welfare Officer,
(E C Evans), Patrol Officer Long and Ted Cooper (driver), proceeded
with Dr J Hargrave of the Department of Health in two landrovers
and one 3-ton truck from Alice Springs to Yuendumu on Friday, 7th,
June, 1957, and reached Mt Doreen Station on the morning of the
following day.
2. Here Mr Braitling with his Unimog truck joined the
party, accompanied by an aboriginal assistant, 'LION' JANGALA.
Another WAILBRI speaker, Barney JANGALA and two PINTUBI who had
been some time at Mt Doreen, Peter JUBURULA and George JABANANGA,
were provided as guides and interpreters. Two PINTUBI men and a
boy who had come into the station about three weeks before also
joined the party to lead it to their group which they had left
at KUNJARRI Rockhole. An old man, Freddy JABANGADI, who is a figure
of some importance in the ceremonial activity formerly associated
with the area west of Mt Singleton also joined the party. With
the wives and children of these men there were a total of twelve
adults and fourteen children. most of whom travelled on the 3-ton
truck.
3. Dr Donald Thomson, of Melbourne University, his
assistant Mr W Hosmer and his brother-in-law, Mr Walter McColl,
travelling in a landrover and a jeep and trailer had arrived at
Mt Doreen on the preceding Tuesday and accompanied Mr Braitling
and the Administration patrol when they left Mt Doreen at 2pm
on Saturday, 8th June, 1957.
4. The party had tea at Jack Clark's camp, 21 miles from
Mt Doreen and there loaded the carcase of a bullock, provided
by Mr Braitling. Camp was made at Whittington Soak (ALGURDA),
38 miles from Mt Doreen, at nightfall. (Camp 1)
5. 9th June (Sunday): Neil Jones of the Mines Branch and
his field assistant travelling in a landrover came up with the
party just as a start was made at 9am. As on the afternoon
before a slow pace was set by the Unimog. The abandoned wolfram
mine at Mt Singleton (INTA-AMORU) 52 miles from Mt Doreen, was
reached at 11am and here water tanks were filled and Dr
Thompson refuelled from the 54 drums supplied by Ampol for his use.
Five hours running in the afternoon took the party
only 10 miles beyond the mine. The course lay through a belt of
thick mulga immediately north-west of Mt Singleton and much time
was spent clearing a track.
Camp 2 - distance from Mt Singleton : 10 miles
day's run : 23 miles
6. 10th June : The party continued on a line about 30 degrees
North of West through four miles of mulga and then over an open
spinifex plain with scattered acacias and hakeas. Mt Farewell
was visible to the south most of the day. Dr Thomson's jeep
caused a two hour delay with fuel-line trouble and a halt was
made at sunset in a belt of desert oak, when the exhaust pipe on
Mr Braitlings Unimog came apart.
Camp 3 - distance from Mt Singleton : 36 miles
day's run : 26 miles
7. 11th June : After two miles the party reached Mr
Braitling's track of March, 1957. Here the heavier and slower
vehicles were left and the Welfare Branch party with Dr Hargrave,
Mr Jones, Mr Braitling, Dr Thomson and Mr McColl in three
landrovers turned to the south towards KUNJARRI Rockhole. The
Rockhole is a cleft about 30 feet long in granite lying in a
slight depression among mulga. Several holes had been dug out
in the earth in the cleft, some with shafts dug several feet
under the granite. There was a little water in the northern
extremity of the cleft.
The three PINTUBI, who had left our night camp about
8am that morning, arrived at the Rockhole shortly after the
landrovers. There was no sign of very recent occupation of the
area and in the afternoon our guides led us first to YAURUI, a
Soak some twelve feet deep, a mile and a half to the south and then
to KUNYARBA, a Soak dug in a patch of mulga on a lateric ridge
lying about 11 miles south-west. Here a recently occupied camp
was found with weapons and vegetable foods stored in the branches
of the mulga. The Soak was dry.
Here it was decided that two landrovers should return
to the main convoy and move on to KIMAI WELL while Mr Evans,
Dr Hargrave and Patrol Officer Long should continue west as far
as fuel permitted in the hope of coming up with the group.
Accordingly the party divided and the two landrovers reached the
other vehicles about 10pm that evening while the other group,
accompanied by Barney JANGALA, camped about 5 miles west of
KUNYARBA Rockhole.
Camp 4 : day's run : 35 miles
8. 12th June : After two hours running west-south-west the
party reached JALGIRI, a low dome of granite among the sandhills with
two waters in the east side, both of which contained good water.
Here a smoke was put up and five replying smokes were seen, two
within a reasonable distance. After moving about five miles
west our guides crossed the sandhill to the south and brought
up an old man and two boys. With these we continued west, crossed
one sandhill and came to the main camp on MILIJIPI, another deep
Soak about half-a-mile south of the sandhill.
Three hours were spent here lunching with the group and
enquiring into their numbers and general condition. (see attached
list and medical report).
The party left this group at 4pm and drove back through
intermittent light rain to the main track, making camp there shortly
after midnight.
Camp 5 - distance from Mt Singleton : 38 miles
day's run : 74 miles
9. 13th June : Showers continued through the morning as the
party followed the tracks of the main convoy towards KIMAI and came
up with it shortly before reaching the Well at 1pm. George
Chippendale, Botanist, with the Animal Industry Branch, and his
assistant had joined the convoy at the previous night's camp after
two day's travel from Alice Springs.
The afternoon was spent in rearranging rain-damaged stores
while intermittent rain continued.
Camp 6 - distance from Mt Singleton : 73 miles
day's run : 35 miles
10. 14th June : Rain continued all day. Mr Braitling
supervised the cleaning out of the well which is about eight feet
deep and lies in a depression in limestone country. Stunted ti-tree
grow around the well which provides a permanent supply of
hard water.
11. 15th June : There were further showers in the morning,
but as it cleared vehicles were repacked and refuelled and water
drums filled. Messrs Jones and Chippendale left to inspect the
country to the westward planning to rejoin the main party in two
day's time. After leaving at 4pm the party camped on a lateritic
ridge 8 miles to the north-west (NALGULBA Rockhole).
Camp 7 - distance from Mt Singleton : 83 miles
day's run : 8 miles
12. 16th June, Sunday : A light shower fell during the night,
but the day was fine. Dr Thomson left his jeep and trailer on a
clear patch surrounding a hole two miles west of the night camp
(JANGANBA) in order to avoid causing further delays. The track
lay a little North of West all day and a camp was made under a
prominent quartzite bluff (WAIMBRING) situated within ten miles
of the Western Australian border. A dry Soak was found on the
south side of the bluff.
Camp 8 - distance from Mt Singleton : 114 miles
day's run : 31 miles
13. 17th June : Further showers fell during the night and
Mr Braitling decided to remain in the camp rather than risk bogging
the Unimog. The three landrovers headed West between the sand
hills towards a range of hills running North and south, then
through passes in the hills into a valley forming part of Michael
Terry's Red Cliff Pound. A (sic) miles before entering this valley
vehicle tracks were seen which were stated to be those of two
Landrovers and a truck which had come South from the Pallotine
Father's Mission at Balgo Hill about Christmas 1956.
The party was led to LABBI-LABBI, a permanent rock pool
at the head of a creek which drains into Lake Hazlett. Camp
was made at the junction of this creek with another about a mile
above a large salt-water pool in the creek. (JANGANGGA).
Camp 9 - distance from Mt Singleton : 142 miles
day's run : 28 miles
14. 18th June : Heavy rain fell overnight and showers
continued all day. Creeks on two sides of the camp flowed strongly
and no movement was possible. A reconnaissance of the surrounding
hills was made and part of Lake Hazlett could be seen. The rain
became heavier in the evening.
15. 19th June : The day was fine and cloudy. Patrol
Officer Long walked with one of the two guides, Barney JANGALA,
to, LUARNI Soak about three miles to the West on the edge of the
plain of Lake Hazlett. Tracks and camps could still be seen in the
hills in spite of the heavy rain and clear tracks were seen on
the clay pans of the lake. The Soak which is described as permanent
had been flooded by a stream that flows through the hills into the
lake. Since the ground was clearly too soft to allow the Landrovers
to come as planned to this soakage and to another which lay a few
miles to the South, they returned to the camp.
All the vehicles bogged once or twice in the course of
leaving camp to return to WAIMBRING and after making three miles
in three hours the party made camp.
Camp 10 - day's run : 3 miles
16. 20th June : For the first seven miles the track was
soft and all vehicles bogged at least once. At the dinner camp
a vehicle was heard and contact was made with Mr Jones who was
travelling along a Valley in the Sandhills, half a mile to the
South. He had found the going soft when following the tracks of
the main party the day before. He continued West to examine the
hills. The main party returned to WAIMBRING at 6pm and Mr
Jones arrived two hours later. Mr Chippendale had left the day
before to return to Alice Springs. He and Mr Jones had reached the
camp at WAIMBRING on Monday 17th after travelling South-West
to Lake Mackay from KIMAI WELL and then returning North to cut
the tracks of the main party.
Camp 8 - distance from Mt Singleton : 114 miles
day's run : 26 miles
17. 21st June : Dr Thomson left at 9pm to return to
KIMAI and he was followed an hour later by Mr Jones who was
returning to Alice Springs.
After servicing the Landrovers in the morning the party,
accompanied by Mr Braitling, moved South cutting Jones' track
in some lateric hills and following it through these hills.
Camp was made near a Soakage (MARBANA) near the track.
Camp 11 - day's run : 19 miles
18. 22nd June : The party followed Jones' track to the
North-East edge of Lake Mackay. The first of two sandhills that
lay across the track proved too steep for Dr Hargrave's Landrover
and the last five miles to the lake were travelled in one vehicle.
Smokes were put up from time to time but these did not produce any
response. The party returned from the lake to the other Landrover
and camp was made beside a sandhill.
Camp 12 - day's run : 35 miles
19. 23rd June, Sunday : The party returned to WAIMBRING
camp, making a new track most of the way to shorten the journey
and reached the camp at 1pm.
The afternoon was occupied in re-loading the vehicles
and servicing the truck.
Camp 8 - day's run : 31 miles
20. 24th June, 1957 : The party returned to KIMAI WELL
where the group of PINTUBI met at MILIJIPI Soak were found to have
arrived the preceding week. There were now a total of 42 natives
camped at the Well and arrangements were made to provide cooked
meals for them during our stay.
Camp 6 - day's run : 37 miles
21. 25th June : The day was spent in camp. The possible
location and numbers of other groups was discussed with the men and
it was decided to return to the West where it was believed a group
of about thirty would be found near KOARLA, a Rockhole in Terry's
Alec Ross Range.
22. 26th June : The morning was occupied in reloading
and refuelling and in issuing rations for the people remaining
behind.
A start was made at 1pm but the going over the
limestone ridges was found to be too rough for the Unimog in
the direction taken by Mr Jones ten days before. Accordingly
a second start was made along the track to WAIMBRING. Dr
Thomson was ill and remained behind, planning to follow up
next day. Mr Braitling went on to WAIMBRING, that night,
while the rest of the party camped about 23 miles from KIMAI.
Camp 13 - day's run : 36 miles
23. 27th June : After refuelling at WAIMBRING next
morning the party moved South and South-East in the two Landrovers,
and camped by a ridge some six miles North-East of
Alec Ross Range (MILBAGORING Soak). There are extensive areas
of mulga and grass country here, the first seen since leaving
the Mt Singleton area.
Camp 13 - day's run : 55 miles
24. 28th June : The track to KOARLA led past many
claypans all filled by the recent rain. Many fresh foot-prints
of the group we were looking for were seen during the morning.
KOARLA appeared not to have benefitted from the rains; there
was only a small algae-covered pool, although the supply is
described as permanent. From the hill above the Rockhole our
guides claimed to be able to see a fire and we skirted the
western edge of the range and made south towards it. A halt was
made by a high sandhill and the adjacent valleys to the South
were searched on foot, following the numerous fresh footprints.
A deserted camp was found about three miles south and in response
to a smoke put up here another appeared to the east. Sending
the guides on ahead we returned and brought the vehicles round
through the sandhills to a claypan (YURA-LARI-PANDA) where we
found one man and his family and the families of two other men
who returned later in the evening.
Camp 15 - day's run : 29 miles
25. 29th June : Most of the day was spent with this
group, only one of whom had visited Mt Doreen and most of whom
had not seen white people before. Inquiries revealed that a
party of unmarried men attached to this group were some distance
away to the West but no information was forthcoming about other
groups in the area.
Leaving the claypan about 3pm the party travelled
East to Lake Mackay and then North-East along its edge, camping
near two dry Soakages (WALARA_BAIJARA).
Camp 16 - day's run : 19 miles
26. 30th June, Sunday : We continued in a North-
Easterly direction around the top of the lake and cut our
previous tracks 18 miles south of WAIMBRING and 42 mines South-
West of KIMAI. From this point one Landrover went north to the
Unimog which had been left at WAIMBRING Bluff, while the other
followed Jones' track straight back to KIMAI arriving there
shortly after nightfall. The other Landrover, and the Unimog
arrived later in the evening, as did Dr Thomson who had gone as
far as WAIMBRING the day before, but had not followed further
when he learnt that we were returning.
Camp 6 - day's run (a) : 62 miles
- day's run (b) : 76 miles (via WAIMBRING)
27. 1st July : Dr Thomson's Landrover had a broken
rear wheel bearing and the morning was occupied in examining
this and then loading the vehicle onto the truck for return to
Alice Springs. Dr Thomson planned to remain at the Well with
the PINTUBIs and two assistants, Barney JANGALA (with his two
wives and six children) and George JABANANGA. The Administration
party, with Mr Braitling, departed after 5pm and made camp
at midnight.
Camp 17 - distance from Mt Singleton : 52 miles
day's run : 22 miles
28. 2nd July : The party continued to return along
the track made on the outward journey and camped ten miles along
from Mt Singleton on the site of the second camp.
Camp 2 - day's run : 42 miles
29. 3rd July : While pausing to refuel and wash at
Mt Singleton Wolfram Mine Dr Thomson came up with the party
in his Jeep. He had left KIMAI on the previous afternoon to
collect some supplies dumped on the outward journey and then
decided to continue into Mt Doreen to collect mail and make
arrangements for an air drop of supplies.
The journey to Mt Doreen took longer than anticipated
since the truck and Mr Braitling's Unimog both bogged
badly in a spinifex plain about thirty miles out and Dr Thomson's
jeep and trailer bogged in a creek 6 miles out, but all reached
the homestead by 9pm.
30. The following day the truck and the Landrover proceeded
to Yuendumu and reached Alice Springs the same evening.
Days run : 220 miles
Part III - General Comments
The People The aboriginal inhabitants of the area to the
north of Lake Mackay have, in recent years, been referred to as
the BINDABOOs (or PINTUBUs). However, the Welfare Officers with
the expedition are satisfied that the people are members of the
PINTUBI language group and are more properly named PINTUBIs. The
expression PINTUBU is used by the WAILBRIs of Mt Doreen and
Yuendumu, and would seem to be a means by which the people are
associated with the PINTIBIs but at the same time are thought of
as a kind of ethnic group within the total PINTINI people. There
have been PINTUBI speaking people at Haasts Bluff Settlement for
many years and still others visit the Settlement briefly in the
hot, dry weather. The people met on this patrol are known to
those on Haasts Bluff and vice versa.
It is of interest to observe at this point that
the people at present living in the Rawlinson Range area in Western
Australia are apparently also closely affiliated with the PINTUBI,
but are known to them as PATUTA.
The tribal territory originally occupied by the
PINTIBIs does not appear to have been extensive. The eastern
boundary of their country probably lies no more than fifty miles
east of the Western Australian border at any point. Most of the
area covered by the patrol was, in fact, WAILBRI territory,
depopulated by the migration of the WAILBRI to Yuendumu, Mount
Doreen and Hooker Creek.
The PINTUBI are constantly on the move and perhaps
more closely approach the habits of true nomads than did there
fellow desert tribes such as the ARANDA and WAILBRI in their
pre-European settlement existence. Because of the scarcity of both
food and water, one or the other is soon consumed in a given area
necessitating the movement of the whole group on to other areas.
This has resulted in the non-development of any skills in the
use of spinifex or brush in the construction of dwellings. At all
camps visited, the only evidence of any construction to give
protection from sun or wind was low wind-breaks formed haphazardly
of scrub branches.
Their physique is similar to that of other desert
tribes, as are their facial and hair characteristics. There was
little evidence of body cicitration and the only adornments seen
were hair necklets or halters and hair belts. Except in a few
instances (people who have had some contact or whose relatives
have had some contact with white settlement), no pubic covering
was worn by either sex. Some men were given shirts by relatives
who travelled with the party from Mt Doreen and these were
worn during our stay.
The hunting and domestic equipment consisted of
the usual necessities to nomadic groups - hardwood tipped
spears, woomeras, throwing sticks (boomerang type), coolamons
and pitchis (water-carriers). There was no evidence of flint-
tipped spears although it would not be surprising if this
type were occasionally made by the people.
Time did not allow even a sketchy enquiry into
their ceremonial, but there is abundant evidence in the nature
of 'dreaming' and ritual centres, phallic stones, marks or
features 'made' by totemic heroes, which indicates that the
spiritual life is very much alive and in practice. A deep
reverence was evident among the men as we were shown the sacred
sites or objects. All adult men were circumcized although
this ceremony is apparently performed after puberty as two
youths of approximately 15 years were still uninitiated at
the time of our visit.
Their contact with Europeans and the European way
of life is only slight and in many cases nil, although all
would be aware of the existence of a white race of people. We
were the first white people seen by the group contacted at
YURA-LARI-PANDA. However, they displayed no signs of fear
at our approach, nor was there any attempt to flee. Their
whole manner was one of shyness and meekness, combined with an
eagerness to please. In our presence they rarely spoke above
a whisper and it is possible that they would not be aware that
we would not understand their language. This was particharly
noticeable among the second group contacted.
Without a lengthy study, one can only guess the
migratory habits of these people in normal years and their
numbers. There was evidence at both JANGANGGA and LUARNI
that natives had been in the area immediately prior to our visit.
Also, the soaking rains made it impossible to establish with
any accuracy if there is any concentrations on permanent waters
following a pro-longed dry spell. However, it would seem that
the areas east, south and west of Lake Mackay are hunted out
first and while the limited resources of those areas last,
and then a movement is made towards LABBI LABBI and other
permanent wastes south and south-east of Lake Hazlett as the
dry season progresses. As to their numbers, here again one can
only hazard a guess, but it would seem to be likely that their
total numbers would exceed 150 but would not reach 200.
Dood and Water Supplies - Apart from claypans and rock-
holes in the lateric ridges which filled after the rains
which fell during the patrol, a total of sixteen alleged
sources of water-supply was seen, and of these only four
KIMAI, LABBI LABBI, LUARNI and KOARLA were stated to be
permanent. As LABBI LABBI, LUARNI and KOARLA are rockholes fed
by creeks, their permanence following a long dry period must
be suspect. The water at KIMAI, being in a limestone basin,
was very 'hard'. A fifth, JANGANGGA, was so salty as to be
unfit for human consumption. It consisted of water-holes in
a rocky creek bed, and apparently at certain times and places,
the water freshens and becomes palatable. However, despite
a thorough and extensive testing no fresh water was available
at this source to the party. The waters at KUNJARRI, JALGIRI
and WAIMBRING were described as belonging to mixed groups of
WAILBRI and PINTUBI. The 'permanent' waters in this hills
immediately east of Lake Hazlett appeared to be the most
important for both groups met by the patrol.
For future reference, the names and descriptions of
the sources of water supplies are listed :-
KUNJARRI Granite rockhole Not permanent. A little
water at time of visit.
YAURUI Soak Not permanent. Dry at
time of visit.
KUNYARBA Soak Not permanent. Dry at
time of visit.
JALGIRI Two rockholes on Not permanent. Fair supply in both
granite dome rock at time of visit.
MILIJIPI Soak Not Permanent. A little water
at time of visit.
KIMAI Native well in limestone Permanent supply of very
'hard' water.
NALGULBA Shallow rockhole Not permanent. Dry when first seen.
Filled after rains.
WAIMBRING Soak Not permanent. Dry when first seen.
Filled after rains.
LABBI LABBI Creek rockhole Permanent in average seasons. Suspect
after long dry spell. Good supply
when seen.
JANGANGGA Creek pool Not permanent. Salty at time of visit.
LUARNI Soak Stated to be permanent. Full
following rains when seen.
MARBANA Soak in laterite hills Not permanent. Good supply when
seen following rain.
MILBAGORING Soak Not permanent. Good supply when
seen following rain.
KOARLA Creek rockhole Permanent, but suspect after long
dry spell. At time of visit had fair
supply of unpleasant-looking water.
This rockhole has some sacred
significance and cannot be visited
by all persons.
WALARA-BAIJARA Two adjacent soaks. Not permanent. Both dry when seen.
Because of the soaking rains which fell on 13th and 14th
June and again on 18th June, a true appreciation of the water needs
of the people could not be made. However, from the soaks seen
before the rain, it is apparent that to obtain sufficient for their
needs, the PINTUBIs go to extreme lengths to get every drop of
moisture from the reluctant earth. Each soak seen was dug out up
to depths of fifteen feet. In one instance (KUNJARRI) a horizontal
drive some 21 feet in length has been hollowed out leading
from the bottom of the soak.
The first group contacted were camped on MILIJIPI soak
which was then about fourteen feet deep, and the amount of water
available to these 20 people barely dampened the bottom of the pit.
Like the WAILBRI and the other peoples of the semi-desert,
the PINTUBI depend largely for food on small marsupials, rodents
and lizards, and on various roots and berries. Kangaroos are
evidently rare, but there are many species of smaller marsupials
and rodents in the spinifex country - hare wallabies (MARLA),
rabbit bandicoots (WINDARU), desert rats and mice. Many signs
of rabbits were seen, especially near the salt lakes, on the
samphire flats and in ti-tree scrub, but only two were seen during
the patrol. The fruit of several species of desert tomato (Solanum
strurianum, S. Ellipticum) appeared to be an important item in the
diet, but a considerable variety of edible berries and yams is
available in the area.
It was evident, however, that, despite these (to us)
hardships, the inhabitants of the area are able to maintain
themselves in reasonably good health, since all looked well despite the
long dry spell which had preceded the June rains. The presence of
a of middle age and one very old woman would seem
to indicate that the PINTUPI are also able to give a chance of
survival not only to the fittest.
The Country - The country between Mt Singleton and the West-
Australian border consists in the main of open spinifex plains.
There is a scattered tree growth of corkwood, desert oak, snappy
gum and ti-tree, whilst a fairly extensive belt of mulga is located
just west of Mt Singleton. The monotony of the seemingly endless
spinifex plains is broken occasionally by laterite outcrops and
a few prominent hills and ranges. At least four of these are
unnamed and un-marked on maps. Long parallel sand-ridges up to 40 feet
high are encountered as Lake Mackay and the border are approached,
and these bear generally east and west. Except in one small area
in West Australia near MILBAGORING Soak no grasses other than
spinifex were seen after we left the mulga forest west of
Mt Singleton.
The Vehicles - Radio etc :- The vehicles used by the party
performed excellently under the most severe conditions. The Landrover
proved itself to be a reliable and versatile vehicle, whilst the
International truck which was virtually the life-line of the party,
suprised everyone with its performance. Apart from three staked
tyres, no mechanical trouble was experienced in any vehicle and the
comprehensive stock of spare parts were returned in their original
containers. In all, a total of 677 miles were travelled from and to
Mt Singleton, and when it is realised that a big percentage of that
distance was travelled in low-ratio gears at speeds of 5 and 6 miles
per hour with the ever-present spinifex and sand creating a continuous
rocking motion, then the performance of the vehicles can best
be appreciated. The effect of the rains made the going more difficult
as it compacted the sand to give greater resistance to the wheels.
At one stage, the International was using one gallon of petrol for
every mile travelled. The Landrovers too were reduced to as low
as five miles per gallon, compared with the normal 20 m.p.g. on
good running. An item of equipment which could have been used to
advantage in bogs is a winch, and any future similar patrols should
ensure that at least one Landrover is so fitted. This is most
essential where a sole vehicle is making the trip.
The portable transceivers provided a vital and comforting
link with the outside world through a daily session with
Mt Doreen Station. However, inter-vehicle communications on the
occasions when the party split up was not at all satisfactory.
This aspect was discussed with Mr Don Gooding of the Flying Doctor
Base, Alice Springs and he attributed the failure to sun-spot
activity, the short range over which the contact was attempted, and
the fact that transmission was made on 55 metres. Mr Gooding
recommends that for certain contact under such conditions the
148 Metre coil should be used.
Part IV - Census Details and Comments
Group 1, Milijipi Soak, 12. 6.1957
Eur Name Aboriginal Name Subsection Age Sex Notes
Jabandara Jangala 55y M Blind in right eye.
First visited Mt Doreen May 1957
Yarba (Kanapunda) Nungarai 38y F Away from camp
Seen at Kimai 25. 6.1957
Nambidjimba 22y F Away from camp
Seen at Kimai 25. 6.1957
Dick Jambijimba 12y M Visited Mt Doreen 1957
Jambijimba 9y M
Nambijimba 6y F
Jambijimba 4y M
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kulai / Wanira Jagamara 65y M Blind in right eye (cyst)
Visited Mt Doreen 1955
Yamari Nabaljari 45y F
Joe Jilbalimba Juburula 30y M See below
Juburula 15y M Visited Mt Doreen 1955, uninitiated
Juburula 12y M
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Jilbalimba Juburula 30y M Hare lip, Alice Springs Hospital
and Yuendumu 1955,
On Mt Doreen May 1957
Yarba Nabananga 18y F Away 12. 6.1957, seen 25. 6.1957
Nagamara 2y F
Marla Nabananga 19y F Visited Yuendumu, Alice Springs 1955
Roy Jagamara 4y M
Jagamara 8m M Very fat
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dingarri Jambijimba 40y M Away 12. 6.1957, seen 25. 6.1957
Right leg missing, moves with stick
Second list says Away 12. 6.1957, seen 25. 6.1957
Left calf missing, moves with stick
Nabangadi 25y F
Nangala 5y F
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 2, Yura-Lari-Panda Claypan, 28. 6.1957
Eur Name Aboriginal Name Subsection Age Sex Notes
Patuta / Marlujukurba Jabananga 35y M
? / Marla-jukurba Naburula 35y F
Widangula / Jalalba Jabangadi 15y M
Putjukadi Nabangadi 9y F
Kulabanda Nabangadi 8y F
Maligi Nabangadi 7y F Stomach much distended
Mungurjukurba Nabangadi 2y F
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timar / Juntja-Jukurba Juburula 50y M See below
Nabananga F Not seen, secluded following
birth of child one or two days before
Wilidji-Jubulba Jagamara 12y M
Putanga Jagamara 9y M
Unnamed 27. 6.1957 Sex of child not generally known
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiuta / Jangan-jukurba Juburula 35y M Visited Mt Doreen 1955
See below
Nabananga 26y F
Nagamara 6y F
Jagamara 4y M
Nagamara 2y F
Nabananga 19y F
Jagamara 2y F
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nabaljari 70y F Widow, mother of Timar / Juntja-jukurba
and Waiuta / Jangan-jukurba
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nungarai 35y F Widow, mother of below
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nambidjimba 20y F Widow?, daughter of above
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adults Males 7
Females 12 Total 19
Children Males 12
Females 10
Unknown 1 Total 23
TOTAL 42
It would be dangerous to make any definite observations
from the statistics revealed by this census, but it is perhaps
pertinent to observe that of the 23 children seen, 13 fall within
the 6 year span of the age group 0-6 years, whilst only 10 are
within the 9 year span 7-15 years. It could be inferred from
this that there is a high mortality rate in the latter age group
or, alternitavely at the age when the child is required to subsist
on the harsh conditions after leaving its mother's breast. However,
as against that, all children seen were well nourished and well
built.
Part V - Geologist's Report
Observations made on the rapid reconnaissance of the
area have been supplemented by the interpretation of aerial
photographs.
General Geology
The geological succession in the area is shown, in
descending order, in the following table.
Age Unit
Quartenary Creek alluvium
Sand (both sheet and dunes)
Salt and gypsum (lake Deposits)
Tertiary ?Pliocene Freshwater limestone
River Gravels
Tertiary Miocene Laterite
Lower Palaeozoic and/or Sandstone, with minor conglomerate,
Upper Proterozoic shale and dolomite
?Proterozoic Granite
Gneiss and schist
Proterozoic or Archaean Granite
Gneiss and schist
Mineral Deposits
The only mining in the area has been for Wolfram, mined
from narrow veins in the granite at Mt Singleton. It is believed
that very little prospecting has been done in the area. The wide-
spread sand cover and the deep laterisation of the potentially
mineralised metamorphic rocks will make difficult the discovery
of ore deposits.
The prospects of finding petroleum in commercial
quantities in the area are regarded as negligable.
Water Supply
Surface water supplies are small in quantity and limited
in distribution. Further, many waters will not last through
a drought period. Many of the surface waters were seen by the
expedition and those not seen would be of a similar type.
The groundwater resources of the area are almost
completely untouched, except for shallow native wells
into the limestone (eg KIMAI). There is no doubt that
large quantities of water could be obtained from this limestone
and also from the sandstones. Some of the deeper
alluvium might also carry abundant groundwater. Groundwater
in the granite and metamorphics will probably be limited.
A report is being prepared on the geology of the area,
and a map prepared to show the distribution of the geological
units.
Part VI - Botanist's Report (G Chippendale)
General I left Alice Springs on 11th June with botanical
assistant J Kronenburg, and travelled directly to Clark's
Camp, which is 23 miles west of Mt Doreen. On 12th, I
drove to Mt Singleton, picked up the tracks of the Welfare
Branch Expedition and followed these all day and finally
caught the main party about 10pm that night. Next day
we moved to a native permanent water soak called TEEMI (?).
Rain fell intermittently from 11th to 14th, and on 15th I
left TEEMI following Neil Jones (Geologist) and we made our
way to Lake Mackay, detouring only for rock outcrops where
different vegetation may be found. A night and a morning was
spent at Lake Mackay, and then we travelled more or less
North to cut the tracks of the main party which had moved
towards the W.A. border. We joined the group which had camped
about 10 miles east of the border, and further heavy rains
fell here. I returned from that point to Mt Singleton and
arrived at Mt Doreen on the night of the 24th.
Vegetation The general condition of the country before the
rain was extremely dry, and vegetation was strictly limited
to perennial shrubs. Some areas of spinifex country showed
extensive recent burns, and other areas had been burnt in the
last few years. Mulga scrub, associated with Eremophila
latrobei and Acacia Cuthbertsonii (an excellent indicator
of boggy country, and should be named 'Bogbush') and Acacia
notabilis was seen for about 12 miles west from Mt Singleton,
but just after that point, a sharp line marked the end of close
scrub and the beginning of very open spinifex country.
The spinifex country was dominated by Triodia basedowii
and Triodia pungens and perhaps some Plectrachne sp. Herbage
was entirely lacking, owing to the previous dry conditions,
and shrubs were rarely more than scattered. A number of
species of Acacia, including A. notabilis, A. Luerssenii,
A. pyrifolia, A. dictyophleba, A. stipuligera, occurred over
a wide area, but never formed any scrub areas. Mallee,
represented by Eucalyptus pachyphylla and Eucalyptus gamophylla
also occurred extensively, and several species of Ti Tree,
Lelaleuca lasiandra and Melaleuca glomerata, dominated some
areas of about 20 miles, this area being devoid of any shrubs
above 4 feet in height.
Desert Oak Casuarina acci....... grew in patches
always in the deeper and more purely sandy areas, and often
associated with sand ridge country. Corkwood, Hakea intermedia,
grew as a stunted shrub infrequently and never as a decent tree
such as is seen in other areas. Several other species of Hakea
were recorded. Bloodwood, Eucalyptus ............, was seen
sometimes as a stunted tree suffering from a natural pruning of fires
or drought, and occasionally as a medium sized tree to 30 feet or
so. The only mulga, Acacia aneura, was seen on isolated lateritic
outcrops, and the stands were small and insignificant.
Acacia coriacea, 'Dogwood', was perhaps the most common
shrub or tree over a wide area, and it is well known that
the natives use this tree for making implements.
Summary In all, specimems of 91 species were collected,
and some notes of the occurrence of others were made.
The area as a whole presents far 'harder' aspects
to cattle than does the present area being used for the
Desert Grazing Experiment, for the absence of any decent
top-food would seem a critical point. As a result of this trip,
and because of the rains, I plan to make a trip to Tanami
area later this year. From the specimens collected there by
A Banks, and from the indications seen in the area West of
Mt Singleton, I should expect to get practically the same
species in the two areas.
Part VII - Medical Officer's Report (J C Hargrave)
Both groups of natives were a shy, unsophisticated
people, and presented no difficulties at all when I examined
them; they were co-operative as they could be, but no
attempt was made to examine their abdomens. Most of them were
well-built, and some of them were outstandingly good physical
specimens; they were of the average stature of the semi-desert
native; all were well nourished, and their babies were fat.
Palpebral conjunctival and oral mucosal colouring was good in
all cases. No cases of Yaws, either active, or of its sequelae,
or of scabies were seen, which was surprising in the case of the
Militjibi people, who must have had contact with some of the
relatively civilised Wailbris, in whom these conditions are
common. The other conditions encountered in examination of
these people are shown below :-
Eyes
Trachoma - see chart
Phthisis bulbi 3
Dacrocystitis, with a large purulent cyst 1
in the dacrocystic duct
Adherent leucoma 1
Corneal scarring (cause unknown) 1
Early unilateral Entropion 1
Congenital Malformations
Complete cleft palate on the left, with a small hare-lip 1
Accessory breast tissue in both axillae 1
Miscellaneous Conditions
Herniae umbilical 1
Herniae supra-umbilical 1
Right leg missing from about three inches below 1
the knee, following a spear wound in the thigh
on the medical aspect many years ago
Bronchopneumonia in an old man 1
Warts 1
Natives with careous teeth 12
Sores on buttocks 1
Pot-belly (in infants) 2
Skin contracture from the abdominal wall to the 1
thigh following a burn many years ago
The trachoma was of a particuarly mild type and
in no case was there any secondary infection; the other eye
conditions encountered were possibly due indirectly to
trachoma, but at this stage, it is impossible to say so with
any certainty.
For an untouched community, the number of people
with careous teeth was high, the incidence was spread over
all age groups, but was not particuarly severe in any case.
Considering the poor conditions these people must have
endured during the past summer, which was very long and dry,
they were in an excellent state of nutrition and health.
However, they present a completely different picture from the
nomadic Pintubi natives I saw at Haasts Bluff late last year,
and early this year, and again immediately after the expedition;
many of those natives were undernourished, had respiratory
signs, and more severe trachoma; two of them had tuberculosis,
and many others radiological evidence of respiratory disease.
It must be said that when I examined them again recently after
they had had several months at Haasts Bluff, there was a great
improvement in their condition.
Summary
In conclusion, I shall outline some medical responsibilities.
The small groups of natives seen during this expedition
were in an excellent condition; well-built, well-nourished,
and healthy; Their trachoma was, at the time, a mild type, without
secondary infection. It was therefor a medical responsibility
in a negative sort of way that they be left entirely alone; they
need no medical help at present, and certainly no help in
providing a living for themselves. They should be protected from
further contact either with the more civilised natives or with
white people, as this inevitably leads to their contracting
diseases foreign to them.
The Haasts Bluff nomads, although in no way connected
with the expedition have been mentioned to avoid any complacence
as it is not possible to draw any accurate conclusion in the
health of a tribe on the examination of only a few small family
groups. From a medical view-point, which indeed was one of the
most important reasons for conducting the expedition, I would
suggest that further work on the Pintubi natives should be directed
through Haasts Bluff and south of Lake Mackay.
Part VIII - Findings and Recommendations
There can be no members of the Pintubi who have
not at least secondhand knowledge of the area of white
settlement to the east of their territories. A considerable
number, however, choose to remain in their country, paying
only occasional visits to Mt Doreen Station, to Haasts Bluff
Settlement and to the Balgo Hills Mission.
In the event of severe drought affecting the area, however,
it is likely that most of these people would move into Haasts
Bluff Settlement, Mt Doreen Station or Balgo Hills Mission.
There is a suggestion, corroborated by evidence that some
attempt was recently made by the Balgo Hills Mission authorities
(Pallotine Fathers) to make contact with the group. It would
seem that this attempt was made about last December. As
mentioned in the diary of the patrol, tracks were found near Lake
Hazlett of vehicles which were stated to have come from this
Mission. According to our Guide, who had the information from
members of the first group contacted, the vehicles had passed
down the eastern side of Lake Hazlett, visiting the native
wells at LAURNI and KIRINJI, then turned east and north again
to the point where the patrol came on their tracks about three
miles east of LABBI LABBI Rockhole. In a patch of mulga a little
to the north, the Mission party evidently sank a well but the
rains prevented the patrol visiting the spot. There were natives
in the area at the time of the visit by the Missionaries, but
evidently they fled from the party, either after, or in
anticipation of the killing of some of their dogs. This incident may
tend to discourage Pintubi in this area from making their
home at the Mission. Some of the first group contacted had
spent some time at Balgo Hills recently but chose to return to
the bush.
It will therefore be seen that in all probability in
times of severe drought, the Pintubi move into the Northern
Territory towards Mt Doreen Station and Haasts Bluff Settlement,
and this is borne out by the knowledge obtained recently
that some scores of them moved to the Kintore Range area and
further east before the long dry spell was broken by the June
rains.
It is difficult to judge what the effect of recent
intrusions by parties of whites will be. Already one group
has attached itself to Dr Donald Thomson (Melbourne University)
and the other will probably also test his hospitality. It is
his intention to avoid disrupting their way of life and he hopes
to move about with them on foot to study their normal routine,
but such an intention must be difficult for the Pintubi to understand.
They no doubt hope to camp with him to share his supplies
(which must be considerable since the RAAF drop) for as
long as possible. When Dr Thomson leaves the area, the Pintubi
may revert to their normal way of life, but one man expressed his
intention of visiting Mt Doreen and Yuendumu Settlement again
in the near future and others may follow Dr Thomson in to Mt
Doreen.
Every effort was made to ensure that the impression
was not given that the Administration wanted these people to
leave their country and come in to Mt Doreen or to a Settlement.
There is however, no guarantee that this or other misleading
information was not provided by our interpreters.
Findings
The findings of this patrol were as follows :-
1. A group of people numbering between 150 and 200
live in the area adjacent to the NT / WA border and
between Lakes Mackay and Hazlett.
2. Their health was good at the time of the visit,
there being no evidence of malnutrition or other
serious complaints.
3. The food available to them is adequate to maintain
and sustain them in a vigorous and fertile state of
health.
4. Water supplies are meagre and few and far between.
It is thought that the areas inhabited at the time of
the visit would have soon had to be abandoned by the
people had not the rain fallen during the patrol.
5. Groundwater would be available in the limestone and
sandstone areas and may also be found in the alluvium.
6. The pastoral potential of the country seen by the
patrol is almost negligable.
7. There was no evidence that mineral deposits of any
value exist in the area.
Recommendations
1. That the area occupied by the Pintubi be declared
a Reserve for Wards in order that contact between these
people and Europeans can be controlled and supervised.
An inordinate disturbance of their present way of living and
the introduction of diseases at present foreign to them could
have disastrous results. A secondary purpose of such a Reserve
would be to ensure that no person enters the area without
proper precautions and equipment. In this connection the
Thomson party was dangerously ill-equipped, and it is certain
that had they attempted the expedition without the company of
the Administration patrol (as was their intention) they would have
been in grave peril through inadequate water and fuel supplies
and over-laden vehicles.
The suggested limits of the Reserve are :-
The 21st parallel of latitude to the north; the line of the
Western boundary of Mt Doreen Station to the east, as far
as the southern boundary of the property and thence the line
of the western boundary of the Haasts Bluff Reserve, joining
that Reserve to the South-West Reserve; and to the west,
the 129th degree of Longitude. (See map, hatched in red).
This area will ensure the protection of the country and by
itinerant members of both the Pintubi and Pitjantjara tribes
but of which only a small portion lies within the existing
reserves.
2. That it be recommended to the Western Australian
authorities that a Reserve be proclaimed to protect the
tribal area of the Pintubi in that State. The suggested
area of the Reserve is that bounded by a line running due
north from the north-west corner of the existing Central
Reserve to the 21st parallel of Latitude and thence east
along the parallel to the Northern Territory border (Hatched
blue).
3. That a patrol be made in October or November this
year to the Kintore Range area west of Haasts Bluff in
order to ascertain the numbers and the condition of
the Pintubi inhabitants.
From the Pintubi informants who recently migrated
into Haasts Bluff Settlement it would seem that the
country due west of Mt Liebig is less sparsely
populated than the Lake Mackay area and that there may
be some country with pastoral properties.
4. That an annual patrol be made to the Lake Mackay
area to observe the conditions of the people and to
establish and maintain a friendly contact.
In this regard, Patrol Officer Long was delegated
during this patrol to give the gifts to the people and
to record data by questioning. In this way it was hoped
that the people would come to associate Mr Long with
the Government and would develop confidence in him. It
is therefore further recommended that Mr Long lead further
patrols into the area so that he also undertakes the
patrol to the Kintore Ranges later this year.
5.That the offer made by Dr Donald Thomson to supply
all anthropological and statistical data to the Northern
Territory Administration at the conclusion of his visit
to the area be accepted with thanks.
6. That a Long-wheel-base Landrover allocated to the
Southern Division be fitted with a winch for use in similar
patrols planned for the future.
7. That the unnamed ranges and hills located by the party
be identified by the Nomenclature Committee by the native
names recorded by the party. These are :-
Jangga Bluff
Wainbring Bluff
Nardudi Hill
Wilbrungga Range
Munyu Hills
Their location fixed by aerial photographs, are shown on
the attached map.
Part IX - Appreciation
The thanks of the leader go out to all personnel for
their enthusiastic co-operation throughout what was quite an
arduous patrol. The team work could not be faulted and the amount
of knowledge gained and the area covered in such a short time is
evidence of the application of the members of the party.
The ready and indispensable co-operation of the
Commonwealth Department of Health and the Bureau of Mineral
Resources was also much appreciated and resulted in a thorough and
complete assessment being made of the people and their country.
Special mention should be made of the contribution
made by Mr Ted Cooper, a full-blood from Darwin, who completely
identified himself with the party and its objectives. He gave
valuable assistance to Dr Donald Thomson in the maintenance
of his (Dr Thomson's) vehicles and both Dr Thomson and
Mr Braitling expressed sincere appreciation for the help
Mr Cooper had so readily and efficiently given them
throughout the patrol.
The assistance rendered by Mr Braitling was of
inestimable value. In addition to encouraging the Pintubi
guides to remain on his property until the patrol was ready to
leave, he provided his own vehicle at no cost to the Administration.
An offer was made to replace the fuel used by the
Unimog, but this was declined, as was payment for the bullock
killed for the party on the day of departure from Mt Doreen.
The hospitality extended by both Mr and Mrs Braitling as the
patrol passed through the station both going out and returning
was of the highest order and was most appreciated by all.
Finally it is reported that on the day the party
was due to leave KIMAI Well on its return journey to Alice
Springs, the long-wheel-base Landrover driven by Dr Donald
Thomson developed a serious fault involving a rear wheel bearing
and the crown wheel and pinion. Under all the circumstances
it would have been foolhardy for Dr Thomson with his very limited
mechanical knowledge to have attempted repairs out bush, even if
the parts required were dropped by the RAAF. Accordingly an
offer was made to transport the stricken vehicle on the
International truck to Alice Springs, and this offer was gratefully
accepted by the doctor.
The vehicle was loaded and transported the 370 miles
back to Alice Springs without incident.
E C Evans
Chief Welfare Officer
Darwin 19. 8.1957
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A letter dated February 1958 lists some photos taken on the above expedition.
I have added this list to the file with links to a few
of the photos downloaded from the National Archives of Australia
website.
L25174 Typical of many soakage wells dug out by the
Pintubi as the water recedes into the dry
earth. This one was 15 feet deep, and at the
time of the visit by the patrol had been
abandoned.
L25168 The same soakage after 3 inches of rain had fallen
during June. The stunted mulga trees are
the only relief to the everlasting spinifex
of the desert.
L25164 Koarlo Rock Hole at the foot of the Alec Ross
Range, WA. This rock hole has a sacred
significence to the Pintubi and a full
blood from a northern tribe who accompanied
the party as a driver was not permitted to
approach it.
L25178 On the shore of Lake Mackay a dry salt
encrusted expanse which can be seen on the
horizon. This area had many rabbit
warrens, but only 2 rabbits were seen.
L25169 Among the first group contacted was this
one-legged man of middle age. As far as
could be ascertained his leg had been
removed in the bush following a serious
spear wound. He was no handicap to his
fellow tribesmen moving through the country
with the aid of a stick.
L25163 Typical of the Pintubi of the second group
contacted north-west of Lake Mackay as they
were when we first approached them.
L25170 This young man wearing a shirt given him
L25166 by a relation who travelled with the party
from Mt Doreen Station displays the
classical features of a true desert aborigine.
L25175 The aged and wrinkled woman in the background
and the well nourished infant in the foreground
vividly illustrates that the Pintubi have
adapted themselves to their harsh environment
to obtain sustenance for all age groups.
L25161 This group were contacted following the
L25172 phenomenal rains of June 1957 which filled
the many clay pans scattered between the
ridges, and one of which can be seen in the
background. To aid them in their hunting
the Pintubi have tamed young true dingoes
but it is understood these dogs revert to
their wild state on reaching the age of
approximately 18 months.
L25165 A group of women and their infants awaiting
L25173 medical examination. It is not known where
the girl obtained the hessian skirt she is
wearing.
L25171 Dr J Hargrave of the Commonwealth Health
L25167 Department examines Pintubi men and boys
L25177 for chest and eye conditions. Dr Hargrave
reported that the group were in an
excellent state of health and showed no
signs of malnutrition despite the long dry
spell that had preceded the visit of the
patrol. The people showed no signs of fear
of the stethoscope, but were intrigued by
the motor vehicles in which the patrol
travelled into their tribal area.
L25179 Patrol Officer Long makes gifts of food and
tobacco to the three eldest men of the party
before the patrol departed. They had no
previous knowledge of tinned meats and had
to be shown how to open them and to be told
what they contained.
L25176 The three eldest Pintubi with some of the
gifts given them before the Patrol departed.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The report file contains a map of the area visited by the Patrol.
This map is available here.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The original medical report is longer than that above. Following
is a transcript of this :-
Between the 7th June and the 4th July 1957, an expedition was made
by the department of Welfare (N.T.) to the Lake Mackay area on the Western
border of the Northern Territory. The aim of the expedition was to make
'contact' with groups of Pintubi Natives in this area, as reports have from
time to time come in of natives living in a completely nomadic state: another
aim was to determine their needs from a medical point of view, to assess the
state of their water sources, and to try to find out some of the areas in which
they wander and hunt. The importance of a Medical Officer going from the depart-
ment of Health was twofold - to provide some reliable information on the needs
of these people, and to attend to any medical problems of the people in the
expedition, which would otherwise have had no medical assistance in any emergency,
while located in a comparatively remote part of the Territory.
What better time could be chosen for this expedition, then, than the
end of a long, very dry summer, when the needs would be the most acute.
To form any idea of 'needs'. one must first have an idea of the country
in which the nomads live; 'Desert' natives though they are, they live only in
semi-desert --- rolling plains of spinifex, sparsely wooded with corkwood, desert
oaks, desert mallee, and ti-tree; the plains are interspersed by ironstone
ridges, limestone rocks, and sandhills, running in an East-West direction, to
converge on the groups of lakes on the Western Australia border. Not far from
Mount Singleton, and again over the border of Western Australia there are some
large patches of better mulga country of many square miles, but for about 100
miles in between, the country is very harsh and dry and one finds it hard to
believe that any human being could keep alive by his own resources. Water, by
our own standards, is very scarce, but by Native standards, abundant; soakages of
30 miles or more apart are only a camp or two away for them; a brackish pool
is 'good water'; but even for the natives, water at times can become scarce;
there may be food and no water, or water and no food; and yet, when there is
plenty of water, he will waste it; he will burn great fires as smoke signals
without the slightest thought of the food he is destroying in doing so; he has
nothing to warm him in the coldest winters except fire sticks, his family, and
his dogs; he wears no clothes at any time. Naturally the collection of food
is one of the major occupations; lizards and goannas, small marsupials, and wild
cats abound; there are some dingoes, but except in the mulga country, very few
kangaroos or emus. The larger type of yam with the big round corm was seen
only within about 30 miles west of Mt Singleton; this was in Wailbri country,
and there are few nomadic Wailbri natives there now, so very few of them had been
dug, and many of the yam bushes were dead.
During the dry season, the natives have to rely on permanent waters in
soakages and rock holes, and temporary waters when there is no food around the
permanent waters, but after the rainfall, they can move out a lot further hunt-
ing for food, living from the water in claypans and smaller rockholes; in spite
of all these hardships, they are alive and happy, and judging from the number
of children present, a fertile people, in no sense 'dying out'.
Two groups of natives were contacted, of 21 and 20 natives res-
pectivelyl The first through some Pintubi men who had come in to Mt Doreen
Station to act as guides, with the help of two Wailbri men living on Mount
Doreen and one man, a mixed Wailbri / Pintubi, who first had white contact with
Michael Terry in his expedition some years ago. The Welfare Expedition
started from Mount Doreen, led by Mr Evans, who was assisted by Mr G Long,
a patrol Officer for the centre, and by Mr E Cooper, who did the truck driv-
ing and the mechanical work. Mr W Braitling, who owns Mt Doreen Station,
and has been in this area for many years came with the Wailbri natives and
their families to lend his invaluable knowledge to the problems encountered in
contacting the natives. A Botanist, Mr Chippendale, and a Geologist, Mr N
Jones also came, and were for some time associated with the expedition.
Dr Donald Thompson from the Department of Anthropology at the Melbourne Uni-
versity was in the area at the same time, with his two assistants, but was not
connected with the Welfare expedition. The whole journey was made in four-
wheel drive vehicles, one of which was owned by the Health Department, and was
equipped with a Traeger radio-transceiver operatong on 43, 55 and 148 coils,
although the last one was not used owing to a defect in it. Through this means,
a daily contact was maintained every night with Mount Doreen, and with Areyonga
and Alice Springs when necessary.
The first group of natives contacted ws at a soakage in the sandhill
country West and a little south of Mount Singleton at a place called Militjibi;
these natives had to be followed through several rockholes and soakages, from
which they had retreated either in search of more hunting grounds or water; they
had retreated from one very good rockhole full of water (Tjalkiri) as there was
very little food around it; they were ultimately found by smoke signals from
their relatives who had come into Mount Doreen. The other group was contacted
a couple of weeks later, after a heavy rainfall, over the Western Australian
border, camped on a claypan at Juralaipanda, South of the Alec Ross Ranges, on
the North Western side of Lake Mackay. The Militjibi people were partly Wailbri
and partly Pintubi, and the Juralaripanda people were Pintubis, most of whom had
had no white contact before. The investigations of the expedition between these
two times were over the Western Australian border to a large camping place near a
big rock hole called Labbi Labbi, not far to the East of Lake Hazlett in a huge
rocky valley, where there were some brackish springs and another camping place
called Luworna; although the natives had been in these areas in the not too
distant past, there were none to be seen at the time, and they no douby would
have gone further afield straight after the rain which fell while the expedition
was there, not having to rely at that stage for their more permanent water holes.
Both groups of natives were a shy, unsophisticated people, and pre-
sented no difficulties at all when I examined them; they were co-operative as
they could be, but no attempt was made to examine their abdomens. Most of them
were well-built, and some of them were outstandingly good physical specimens;
they were of the average stature of the semi-desert native; all were well nour-
ished, and their babies were fat. Palpebral conjunctival and oral mucosal col-
ouring was good in all cases. No cases of Yaws, either active, or of its
sequelae, or of scabies were seen, which was surprising in the case of the
Militjibi people, who must have had contact with some of the relatively civil-
ised Wailbris, in whom these conditions are common. The other conditions
encountered in examination of these people are shown below :-
Eyes
Trachoma - see chart
Phthisis bulbi 3
Dacrocystitis, with a large purulent cyst 1
in the dacrocystic duct
Adherent leucoma 1
Corneal scarring (cause unknown) 1
Early unilateral Entropion 1
Congenital Malformations
Complete cleft palate on the left, with a small hare-lip 1
Accessory breast tissue in both axillae 1
Miscellaneous Conditions
Herniae umbilical 1
Herniae supra-umbilical 1
Right leg missing from about three inches below 1
the knee, following a spear wound in the thigh
on the medical aspect many years ago
Bronchopneumonia in an old man 1
Warts 1
Natives with careous teeth 12
Sores on buttocks 1
Pot-belly (in infants) 2
Skin contracture from the abdominal wall to the 1
thigh following a burn many years ago
The trachoma was of a particuarly mild type and in no case was
there any secondary infection; the other eye conditions encountered were possi-
bly due indirectly to trachoma, but at this stage, it is impossible to say so
with any certainty.
For an untouched community, the number of people with careous teeth
was high, the incidence was spread over all age groups, but was not parti-
cuarly severe in any case. Considering the poor conditions these people must
have endured during the past summer, which was very long and dry, they were in an
excellent state of nutrition and health. However, they present a completely
different picture from the nomadic Pintubi natives I saw at Haasts Bluff late
last year, and early this year, and again immediately after the expedition;
many of those natives were undernourished, had respiratory signs, and more
severe trachoma; two of them had tuberculosis, and many others radiological
evidence of respiratory disease. It must be said that when I examined them
again recently after they had had several months at Haasts Bluff, there was a
great improvement in their condition.
Summary
In conclusion, I shall outline some medical responsibilities. The
small groups of natives seen during this expedition were in an excellent con-
dition; well-built, well-nourished, and healthy; Their trachoma was, at the
time, a mild type, without secondary infection. It was therefor a medical
responsibility in a negative sort of way that they be left entirely alone;
they need no medical help at present, and certainly no help in providing a
living for themselves. They should be protected from further contact either
with the more civilised natives or with white people, as this inevitably leads
to their contracting diseases foreign to them.
The Haasts Bluff nomads, although in no way connected with
the expedition have been mentioned to avoid any complacence as it is not
possible to draw any accurate conclusion in the health of a tribe on the
examination of only a few small family groups. From a medical view-point,
which indeed was one of the most important reasons for conducting the
expedition, I would suggest that further work on the Pintubi natives should
be directed through Haasts Bluff and south of Lake Mackay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clipping from the Sun Herald Newspaper dated 19 May 1957
Photo of a Pintubi Aboriginal woman titled
Etjiwalja, a 22 year old blonde Pintubi, photographed
by Professor Abbie's expedition. This woman was most probably
examined at the Haast's Bluff Settlement, Northern Territory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extract from Mt Doreen Inspection Report 30. 9.1954
Itinerant Natives - A considerable number of itinerant
natives are in the area, most coming from the Granites,
there being no employment in that area at the present time
and very little likelihood of any in the future.
One family was from west of Vaughan Springs, and as all
required eye treatment, besides a new born baby, the family
was removed to Yuendumu Native Settlement. It is possible
that if this family stays on the Settlement the husband
could be used as a guide to lead a patrol into his tribal
country, where, he states, there is a considerable number
of natives. This native, Coominjarrie, came into Mt
Doreen station some months previously, with a request for
rations, and was given a supply by the owner. They were
apparently very short of food, but rain in the area immediately
after their departure made conditions easier and the whole
party returned westward. From what little information
I could gather one party of natives could be at Ethel Creek,
80 miles due west of Vaughan Springs, 50 miles north west
of Mt Doreen.
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