Letters to Walter Baldwin Spencer from Alfred William Howitt from Box 1 Spencer papers, Pitt Rivers Museum manuscript collections.
Please note that Howitt's handwriting is difficult to read and these transcriptions have not been checked in detail so please check the original letters before using these transcriptions.
Find scans of the original letters here.
Howitt to Spencer letter 1
[On printed paper headed Commissioner of Audit Victoria [with crest] Melbourne]
11/7/95
My dear Spencer
I duly received your very kind telephonic message intimating that I had been elected to the responsible office of counsellor to the University of Melbourne. I thank you very kindly for your congratulations. The appointment has been very pleasing to me but I think that the congratulations which have been made to me as by yourself make it still more agreeable. I hope that I may be able to be of service in my new office with the University of Melbourne.
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Professor Baldwin Spencer
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Howitt to Spencer letter 2
[Printed paper 'Public Service Board Victoria' 'Public Offices Treasury Gardens Melbourne']
20 Sep 1896
My dear Spencer
I write this in the chance of your having returned by today. Fison & I are desirous of having our anthropological talk with you bef [?before] you leave [1] and as it will be more convenient for Fison to see you at Queens than to come out to my house I [illegible word] that I might ask you to let me know whether Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next would suit you and if [2 words illegible] day & we would go up to Queens to see you
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Possibly referring to Spencer leaving to go to Central Australia to attend the Engwura ceremonies and carry out fieldwork with Gillen?
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Howitt to Spencer letter 3
6 June 1897
My dear Spencer
As to Noa
(1) As marriage is restricted to any one totem of each major totem -- there is a group of women therein which is the group of [insert] potential [end insert] Noa wives of the nu a man of the other totem -- always restricted by the "prohibited degrees".
(2) A man chooses a noa wife by "betrothal" of a girl by her father (paternal group) or otherwise by her being given to him by that group.
(3) When a man has got a "noa" wife her sisters are "Lhibil [?]" (eg sisters mothers sisters daughters") are his noas
(4) But the "Husbands brother" is termed "Kadi" and not noa so far as I could find out. Yet in this tribe as in all the other kindred tribes as far as I know sexual relations exist between the noa wife & her husbands brothers or the now husband and her wifes sister "sub rosa" but perhaps not in all cases
In the Kunandaburi tribe at I think upon the junction of the Barcoo & Thompson the "Pirauru" system was in full force and the "Noa system was a process with "sub rosa" license as above
|
Kimandaburi |
Kurnai |
|
|
Husband |
Nubaia |
Bra |
|
Husband brothers |
Nubaia + |
Bra |
|
Sisters husband |
Nubaia + |
Bra |
|
Wife |
Nubaia + |
Maiau |
|
Wifes sister |
Nubaia + |
Maiau |
|
M brothers wife |
Nubaia + |
Maiau |
[actually written alongside the above table] + there are distinguished of the addition of the urkkodimoli which seems analagous w [with] the Wakka [?] -- or Nakanaka of the Dieri similarly applied
I have added the equivalent Kurnai terms The "Bra" is a group of brothers own & tribal The maiau is a group of sisters own & tribal
The Bra obtains one of the women as his Maiau (the Noa) and he had a right to sisters (noa) as maiau if he could get them. The "Bra" group included the brothers own & tribal [insert] and [end insert] even included the Brogan that is the "comrade" who has been initiated at the same Jeraeil And these Brogan when the "Bra" ran off with his future "maiau" exercised the jus primae noctis.
Tulaba my old Kurnai friend was my "brogan" and hence had [insert] a [end insert] "maiau" always addressed me as "Bra" -- lately when in Gippsland I met one of the old survivors of the tribe -- the sin of the "maiau" and he addressed me with the most profound respect as "Mungan" [insert] (father) [end insert] -- this relation flowing from the relationship of "noa" relationship, the established between his brother the "maiau" of Tulaba & hence by maiau.
I hope that I have fully answered your queries if not please add further.
My mention of the Kimandaburi Major totems were Materi and Yuugaru -- Further [illegible] yaru I found Yunguru & Wutaru and the Pirauru practice extended to the Wilson River in Queensland at least
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 4
[Printed paper 'Commissioners of Audit, Victoria' 'Melbourne'
11 June 1897
My dear Spencer
I found the memorandum that I wrote you in my office and now [illegible] for your consideration. I am working hard at the morning on Koppuanmua re "Noa" so that no time may be lost.
(1) when a woman is allotted to a man under the noa arrangement she becomes his individual wife -- always excepting the -- sub rosa -- exercise of marital right by the Noa husbands brothers. Does this nominal right of the other noas & the "subrosa" exercise point to a time when all the "brothers" had their wives in common?
In such tribes as the Kurnai the position of "individual wife" is established but the old nom... [illegible] remains.
(2) When the Pirauru group is together and a child is born in consequence the woman could not tell which of her Piraurus was the individual father. The "group" was in this case the father. I have heard of such a case among the Dieri.
(3) There is much force in your remarks about female descent. We may assume that it goes back at any rate to the formation of the major totems. Did it arise then? I am unable to see why it should have arisen then, if the preceding state was one of promiscuity, and it may be borne in mind that there was nothing depending upon this descent in the female line -- there nothing to pass of inheritance -- as would have been the case of those savages had been in the "agricultural stage". Nothing could pass but the totem name. Can we assume that totem names existed before segmentation If this suggestion be new the truth then may it not be that country descend through the mother is a survival which has persisted under changed conditions, much as the relationship terms, which apply by the Pirauru group, have been retained in tribes which no longer have that -- with instead the "individual" form of marriage established, such as the Kurnai -- when I never heard of the exercise of the marital rights by the husbands brother.
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 5
Audit office
12/11/97
My dear Spencer
I was fully intending to have been at the Royal Soc [1] last evening to hear your paper but unfortunately at the last I found myself unable to go. Nor could I give Fisons message that he feared his bronchial trouble would prevent his leaving home.[2]
Mr Pantin showed me what he spoke of as a "bull roarer" the other evening. It was given to him by MCarneggre [?] who obtained it somewhere near Termination Lake -- at the end of Hurts creek -- [3] out north next for [sic] the McDonnell ranges [4]
It is a churinga [5] about a foot in length and in appearance red ochre, ornamentation to me indistinguishable from those you have. there is also what I should call a "message stick" thus: about four inches [Drawing] in length -- in fact a round piece of wood. My sketch is thus an "impressionist" idea of the thing.
I thought you would like to know as it seems to indicate a very wide extent over which these beliefs connected with the churingas extend.
Yours faithfully
AW Howitt
Notes
[1] Royal Society of Victoria
[2] Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria [1897]. Vol. X (New Series). Part I Art III 'An account of the Engwurra of fire ceremony of certain Central Australian tribes' pp. 17-28. This was the first time that Spencer disseminated the results of his and Gillen's earlier fieldwork.
[3] Baron von Mueller is said to have travelled with 3 others to Lake Termination in the Victoria River area, Northern Territory in 1856 during the North Australia Exploring Expedition led by Augustus Charles Gregory. I cannot identify Pantin or the name of the person who gave him the "bull roarer"
[4] Reference to the Arrernte?
[5] Now glossed as 'tywerrenge"
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Howitt to Spencer letter 6
"Heanor" [1] Finch St
East Malvern
21 Mar 1898
My dear Spencer
I have a request to proffer on behalf of my daughter May which please do not therefore consider yourself bound to agree to.
You know that she has for some months been at work on her "folklore" book which is now so far completed that she will be able to send it off at Easter to Dr Tylor. [2]
Fison was so good as to read it over critically for her and if you would be so very kind as to do the same and to give your opinion and advice it would greatly oblige us.
A little friendly criticism is very valuable to a young author and might very possibly help her to avoid a criticism of a different kind when the book makes its appearance in print.
If you kindly consent the manuscript will be taken over at once to your house in order that no time might be lost. Time is of course an element of the whole for the [illegible] time to make a fair copy if possible before before Easter at which time we are all going down to the Gippsland Lakes for a holiday and my daughter hopes to have the "Folklore" off her mind then
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Howitt appears to have named his house after his ancestral homeland in England, see here
[2] This seems to be M.E.B. (May) Howitt, Legends and Folklore ms. This is cited in Howitt's 1904 book The Native Tribes of South-east Australia, London: Macmillan. Howitt had written to Tylor on 12 June 1897 referring to this manuscript and asking Tylor's advice about publication in England, part of it was published in Mary E.B. Howitt "Some Native Legends from Central Australia" Folklore vol 13 no 4 (Dec 1902): 403-417. Note that Howitt definitely writes 'May' here so she may have been known by both Mary and May. See here Fison to Spencer letter 24.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 7
Audit office
2.6.98
My dear Spencer
I congratulate you very much upon the acceptance of your & Gillens ms. [1] My daughters little book [insert] manuscript [end insert] went to Dr Tylor about a month ago. We are both very much indebted for your friendly criticism I think she adopted almost every one of your suggestions.
I shall be very pleased indeed that if you, Fison & I can meet to discuss the names for the classes. I do not think that we shall have any difficulty.
At present I am writing up all my materials and I have used the term "two class system" -- "four class system" &c -- also classes, sub classes and "totem". I have thought that perhaps it might be well if you we could make use of an Australian term like "murdu" instead of "totem" -- but then the latter word has a recognized practice & has been generally accepted.
I shall be very pleased if you and Fison will come and dine with us and discuss matters.
I wish also to shew you what Rev. Otto Siebert has done. He promises very well and I have been surprised by his views about aboriginal customs -- he being a missionary.[2]
I await your reply -- and will fall in with any arrangement which you & Fison care to make as to the date & place of meeting
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
[there is a drawing or doodle of an oval with a long curved tail to the side of the signature]
Notes
[1] Native Tribes of Central Australia
[2] Otto Siebert was a missionary at Killalpanina, on the Cooper River [See here] He worked with Howitt.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 8
Audit office
12.9.98
My dear Spencer
I have just received your letter cf Sep 10th which together with your previous letter I will very carefully go through & answer as I am able. my return to town on Friday evening and will now up to my neck in work which I must get done
Pending a further examination I fancy that you are correct and that I was wrong in my suggestion. I did not know in what manner you paired the eight names or on what grounds. When I tabulated the names and descents I found that each line of descent involved two subclasses and very stupidly overlooked the fact that each generation goes over to the other half of the class division. I am quite prepared to find that the arrangement which I thus made was wrong -- no doubt your relationship terms give the proper class.
Feeling it only right to point this out at once in order to save you trouble -- If I am in the wrong I regret very much giving you so much trouble.
Since I saw you I have found that our "friend" Mathews described the Bora ground & the proceedings thereon to which the photos I showed you refer to. At any rate his description (Journ Anth Inst 1896) relates to the very same locality and the description he gives fit with the photos. [1]
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Actually 1895, see 'The Bora, or Initiation Ceremonies of the Kamilaroi Tribe' The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 24, (1895), pp. 411-427
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Howitt to Spencer letter 9
13/9/98
My dear Spencer
Nothing would have given me more pleasure than to have been able to accept your invitation to meet Gillen tomorrow evening, but unfortunately I have to leave Melbourne for Rutherglen in the afternoon. Please give my kind regards to him and my congratulations in the splendid work he and you have done
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 10
Finch St East Malvern
1 Nov 1898
My dear Spencer
I had hoped to have been able to be present at the meeting yesterday afternoon at Royalto [?] Hall but was prevented at the last moment. As I shall not see you again before you leave as I go up to Bindys [?] tomorrow I write to say that I have had a letter from Tylor in which however he doe not say anything about my daughters little book. [1] His letter is almost entirely taken up by developments and his doings.
The folk lore series which we mentioned to you is published by W.W. Gibbings
18 Bury Street London W.C.
The series is called Folk Lore and Legends and is published as First and second series -- with a separate volume for each country.
I have written to Dr Tylor by this mail asking him if he had not had any success with the book to hand it to you to bring back -- and as my daughter now remains to do as you like with.
We all hope you will have a pleasant voyage, a successful visit and a quick return when we shall all much rejoiced [sic] to welcome you back
I am my dear Spencer
yours faithfully
A.W.Howitt
Notes
[1] Spencer was obviously about to depart on a short trip back to the UK. See here, letter Howitt 32, written 12 June 1897, when Howitt writes to E.B. Tylor: 'I may take the opportunity of mentioning that in view of the time which may elapse before my Anthropological material may be worked into shape, my daughter has undertaken to put together what I have as regards the Folklore of the tribes of South Eastern Australia. May I ask your kindly advice whether it would be better to publish in England or here--the work will be in scientific lines and yet written so as to commend itself to the taste of the general reader.' See M.E.B. Howitt, Legends and Folklore ms. This is cited in Howitt's 1904 book The Native Tribes of South-east Australia, London: Macmillan. Also Mary E.B. Howitt "Some Native Legends from Central Australia" Folklore vol 13 no 4 (Dec 1902): 403-17. See here
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Howitt to Spencer letter 11
Finch St East Malvern
28 12 [or 28.2?]--98
My dear Spencer
I do not know when I received a letter which has given me more genuine pleasure than yours of [mark] to hand I thank you most truly for the very great compliment which you propose to pay Fison and myself by dedicating your & Gillens work to us. [1] I am quite sure that I may say for Fison and for myself that this will be very grateful to us [sic] and I wish it all the success which it deserves and which it will in [illegible] obtain
I think that you have chosen wisely in keeping the term class and sub-class. At one time I thought that Totem & sub totem, w major totem and totem might have done, but there are some class names of which we do not know the meaning, as words, and cannot therefore say that they are "totems"--
I congratulate you on having your great work practically finished it must be a great mental relief -- I wish I could say the same of myself -- but all that I can do is an hour or two for several nights a week
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Professor W. Baldwin Spencer
Hammerdale
Alma Rd E St Kilda [2]
Notes
[1] Native Tribes of Central Australia, published in 1899.
[2] Hammerdale was Spencer's home from 1896 to 1902, located where Hammerdale Avenue meets Alma Road, a large house owned at one time by Hugh Gemmell a book auctioneer according to this site. It was demolished in 1925. See Mulvaney and Calaby, 1985: 89.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 12
Finch St E. Malvern
20.3.99
My dear Spencer
We, that [?missing word 'is'?] my daughter and I are very much obliged for the continued interest and the trouble you take about her little literary work.
After due consideration she thinks that it would be best to ask Mr Frazer to return the manuscript -- if nothing has been done with it in the mean time. I am going to write to him by this mail to this effect.
She purposes to alter the manuscript in the manner you suggest, when it returns from its travels!
Meanwhile I remain
My dear Spencer
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 13
Finch St
East Malvern
13/4/99
My dear Spencer
Fison asked me to send you the enclosed which he has received from a man in New Guinea whom he is "breaking in" by this mail. He seems to promise well -- and I am interested to see that the marriage Rule is practically on the same lines as that of the Dieri -- only that it runs in birth lines. See p. 4. Nos 13-18 and 17-14. Fison asks that when you have perused it yourself kindly send it back to him.
Fison has had a "fatty tumour" (whatever that may really imply) cut out of his lower lip, and says that he is getting all right again. However he does not seem at all well either physically or mentally. I should fear "cancer"
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 14
Finch Street
E. Malvern
1.5.99
My dear Spencer
In a letter just received from Siebert there is the following passage which I have much pleasure in submitting to your consideration together with the map referred to.
If you will not mind putting down your views I shall have much pleasure of remitting them to Siebert and indeed this gives me the opportunity to saying to him what I have been wanting for some opportunity to say
"A mutilation of names of places X X X [1] proves how necessary it is that we should be careful as to the provincialism, as well as to the orthography X X for instance Kopperamana has been turned round out of Kapara-mara which means a place where the surrounding tribes meet to consult and carry on barter X X X X Indeed I am in difficulty in endeavouring to recognise the tribal names placed in my map w[ith] those given in the Spencer-Gillen work".
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Howitt actually writes 'X X X' at these places
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Howitt to Spencer letter 15
Audit Office
18.12.99
My dear Spencer
I have received proofs of A.A.A.Sc. Handbook [1] which I will settle up tonight and release to you -- if possible tomorrow. There are several things I would like to talk to about with you -- so that if you could find ten minutes, after you have finished dealing with the applications for the position of Palaentologist which I understand you are to consider tomorrow at 2.20 pm [insert] at Mr Topp's office [end insert] we might meet here. [2] This is a sentence of Germanic length, but you will perhaps excuse that.
I enclose a cheque for £1.0.0 being subscription for my wife and daughter, also a note and cheque for Mr Rogers the secretary to the Premier which explain themselves.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science Handbook, presumably for the meeting held in Melbourne in January 1900.
[2] Charles Alfred Topp, (1847-1932) public administrator: '[he joined the] Victorian Education department as inspector of schools in 1869. He became superintendent of the Training Institute, and in 1884 was principal of the Training College. Two years later he was warden of the University Senate. Mr. Topp was appointed chairman of the Board of Public Health in 1890, and in 1894, under-secretary. ... He occupied consecutively the posts of audit commissioner member of the Public Service Commission, and public service commissioner, and he was in fact, the first single public service commissioner.' The Argus, Melbourne 14 July 1932 page 6 (obituary of Mr Topp).
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Howitt to Spencer letter 16
Finch St E. Malvern
10/2/00
My dear Spencer
I thank you very much for your prompt reply and for the help you have given me by identifying some of the Dieri totems You may make your mind easy about Siebert's "investigations"--I do not intend nor ever have intended to use any materials which he has collected either himself or through his brother Mission Strehlow about the Arunta tribes. It would not be fair to you or Gillen and moreover I do not think that such data comes at all within the scope of my present Enquiries which relate to the Dieri and Kindred Tribes. I shall say a little as preamble about the "Urabunna" because you have included them in your work, although they are really any those [sic] tribe which I referred to in my former paper, ten years ago. But I do not think I can prevent Siebert collecting any information which comes in his way. I added the "Wonkaranda" [?] totem names because I thought that they might help you to identify the Dieri totem animals &c.
I am obliged to you for the offer of a list of the Arunta totems, but they might not be of any use to me. There is the essential difference between them and the Dieri terms that with the form they all reincarnations [?] while with the latter they are merely the inherited names of the individual. I feel very much inclined to think that the Arunta belief may be after all later; since in many respects the organization of these tribes is a later development than that of the Dieri & the other tribes of the same stock. On this line of thought, your remark that the Urabunna totems are "practically as numerous as the natural objects (living and men living -- that is the same as those of the Arunta, seems to me to require further consideration, since I know of nothing as yet which suggests that the Dieri have any belief in the reincarnation of the totems -- and I should not have thought of it it of the Urabunna (Ngarabana) unless from your statement that "the same is true of the Urabunna."
I will look up the address review of Eaglehawk [illegible]
With thanks
yours faithfully
A.W.Howitt
P.S. Yudlank is not claytonia as far as I know. The term "Pigface" is used in Victoria and I think South Australia food though I do not remember seeing it, [1] Bellheun [?] records Mesembry anthemum equilat... for the "Salt plains next to the Flinders Range'. However I will make further enquiries
[in Spencer's handwriting, in pencil] M. equilateral
Notes
[1] According to wikipedia, 'pigface' is Carpobrotus. Mesembry anthemum seems to be a similar plant.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 17
East Malvern
4/6/00
My dear Spencer
I must admit at once that I am inexcusable for not having returned your camera lens which you were so good as to lend me but which I have not yet found an opportunity of using. However I hope that you will kindly excuse me and accept my apology.
I am trying my utmost to conclude my official labors by the middle of July at latest, so that I can get away to the Gippsland Lakes and spend a year in finishing my long talked of work on the Native Tribes of Australia. I have it pretty well roughed out and several chapters typewritten so that I see a glimmer of daylight ahead.
I hope that you will be able to find time to continue your work in your own field namely the N. Western quadrant of Australia in which there must be very much to be marked out, and to do this it is necessary that you should be able to take it in hand. I hope to see you before we leave town, which I hope will not be later than two months from now
yours faithfully
A.W.Howitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 18
[Commissioner of Audit notepaper]
Melbourne
27 June 1900
My dear Spencer
First of all let me make my heartiest congratulations on your nomination to the Royal Society. [1] All your friends must be greatly pleased and I for one greatly rejoice.
Next I must tell that I have received a note from Dr McFarland [?] in which he says he has heard that I purpose to resign my seat on the University Council, he asks me to reconsider my decision on the grounds inter alia that my assistance will be valuable in "urging on the Government to provide proper equipment of a mining school at the University".
My feeling is still the same that as I am about to leave Melbourne for twelve months I could not expect to retain my seat. Moreover I do not know that my services are of much value to the University. If however it was thought so and if a rare attendance at the meetings would suffice I should not hesitate to again offer myself. But I do not care to thrust myself forward when a better man may be obtained with more time at his disposal.
What I wished to ask of you is that as a friend in whose opinion I have the greatest reliance, you will tell candidly whether there is anything in Dr McFarlands suggestion for me to consider.
I have had it in mind to write a note to the Registrar at the end of this month or the beginning of the next intimating that as I shall be absent from Melbourne during the greater part of the whole of next year, I do not propose to submit myself for reelection
Kindly treat this note as confidential
yours faithfully
A.W.Howitt
Notes
[1] To become a Fellow of the Royal Society.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 19
Finch Street
East Malvern
7 July 1900
My dear Spencer
Mr Siebert has in his lists of the Dieri totems given in his version of their English names which of course do not enable me to identify more than a few of them. As he gave me also a list of "Wonkaranda" totems -- I have assumed these to be Arunta and it has struck me that you might be able to give me the proper names for the Dieri totems. I have therefore made out a list which I enclose [1] and I shall be very much obliged for any assistance in this matter which you may be able to give me. I have left a column for any remarks you see yourself able to make
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] List no longer survives with letter
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Howitt to Spencer letter 20
Finch St East Malvern
18 July 1900
My dear Spencer
First of all -- let me say that I shall have much pleasure in contributing something to the publishing fund of the A.A.A.Sci [1] -- whenever the money is wanted. Meantime I hold my hand as cash is scarce until I have paid for a lot of land I have bought.
Next I thank you very warmly for your kindness in reading the manuscript sent and for your very valuable criticisms which I gratefully accept in the spirit in which they are made. As to Kami's Ego being Dieri, my children and my sister's children are Karmi-mara that is in "Kami-ship" to each other but my children and my brothers children are Neyi or Kaka or Ngattata in accordance with age, and sex.
I will think over your objection to Noa-wife which seems to me to contract [?] with pirauru - wife and see if any other term will suit -- perhaps she is more properly the "tippa-malku-wife" but that is a jawbreaking word!
If it will not be burdening you too much I will send you the rough draughts of my chapters on local organization, social organization, and marriage
yours faithfully
A.W.Howitt
Notes
[1] Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science
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Howitt to Spencer letter 21
Finch St. East Malvern
25 July 1900
My dear Spencer
I have availed myself at once of your very kind permission to send you the first instalment of my work, in its form as a second revise. But not altogether so I have in order to send as nearly a complete part as possible included the latter part of the section in marriage which still is in its first crude form. Do not however feel bound to puzzle over it because I have sent it. I may add that I have a good deal yet to put in in places but which I have not yet had time to lick into shape. Of course the Dieri part will have to be added but you have seen it in its present shape.
You can if you like to favor me with them make any remarks (say) in the back of the pages facing the matter in question. I shall value them, indeed they will to me invaluable as bringing things into view which I have overlooked. I find that one may have something in mental review until one does see it!
My wife will task the papers over tomorrow as she visits to see Mrs Spencer and for convenience I send them in a portfolio of mine. It may be with inconvenience for you then when you [illegible] with them to leave the portfolio at the Public Library for me, or when my wife is driving St Kilda way she can call and get it which would save you the trouble of carrying it into town
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 22
Audit Office
Melbourne
3 Aug 1900
My dear Spencer
I thank you most sincerely for the trouble you have taken in reading through my ms Your notes are most valuable to me. All will receive attention -- some and I should very much like to talk over with you when there is an opportunity.
I am much encouraged as at times I feel disarranged There are innumerable points and queries which now shew themselves which I did not notice when I was gathering the materials. If I had draughted the work ten years ago I could have cleared up most, if not all, of these points. Now it is impossible in most cases. The old people are dead and so are some of my best correspondents.
It was my leaving Gippsland and getting into the maelstrom of the official work I am now in that has prevented me from putting the finishing touches to my work which are now evidently necessary.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
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Howitt to Spencer letter 23
Finch St
East Malvern
9 Aug 1900
My dear Spencer
I have now two of your agreeable notes to answer. In the first place let me say that I very much appreciate the compliment that you and your friend Mr Robert pay me in asking me to sit for my portrait and I shall have very much pleasure in doing my best to arrange accordingly. [1] I think I can arrange for a Tuesday morning -- and if from 11 to 1 pm would suit I would endeavour to arrange for the next Tuesday If you will let me know by telephone this week. Further arrangements can be then made.
I send you a further instalment of m.s. -- on "Medicine men". It is not revised -- properly, and the matter requires some rearrangement. To follow this I shall have "Initiation Ceremonies" but that paper will not be ready for some time. When it is I will be only too pleased to send it if "Oliver" & me "wants more".
I also enclose the last legend which Siebert has sent me. You will be amused at the footnote about Alligators. It seems to me very clear, -- not that the Lake Eyre blacks ever knew anything about alligators -- but let the Blacks finding fossil bones such as those at Lake Callabonna have built in their finds with one of the Mura Mura legends. That relating to the Mura Mura Minkani refers to one of the "Alligators" somewhere up Birdsville was as far as have yet been able to locate it.
These wanderings of the Mura Mura remind me of the Wanderings of the Alcheringa ancestors you have recorded. [2]
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Tom Roberts (1856-1931), artist. This portrait is now in the Monash University collection, see here, but it was at one time owned by Walter Baldwin Spencer and hung in his study (see Mulvaney and Calaby, 1985: 338)
[2] In Native Tribes of Central Australia
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Howitt to Spencer letter 24
Audit office
13/5/00
My dear Spencer
Kindly telephone me tomorrow morning where I shall find Mr Roberts if I go to the Public Library tomorrow at 11 am.
I have read your note on totemism and shall read it again. There are several material points made by you with which I quite agree and some others which I should like to discuss.
We might do this effectively when I am able to send you my chapter on totemism.
At present I am at work on the Initiation ceremonies.
It will take some time and I expect will divide itself into two parts (1) the Eastern type of ceremony (2) the Western type e.g. those of the Dieri & other kindred tribes. I do not know how long it will take me -- but at present it looks like 150 page of foolscap
Yours faithfully
AWHowitt
P.S. I will meet you tomorrow at a few minutes before 4 pm at the place appointed re Sugden
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Howitt to Spencer letter 25
Audit Office
3.10.00
My dear Spencer
First of all let me congratulate you upon the success which has attended the attempt to find funds for your expedition, although it came from a somewhat unexpected source. [1]
Next -- as to the four Aboriginal words you enclosed.
Mootang -- may be mooting = a small piece, or a little bit. But I have forgotten which language it belongs to. I will try and turn it up & let you know.
Koo-yong is apparently part of the name of Gardiner's creek, which is Kooyong-Coot, or as the survey maps have it Kooyong-cuot. I have the meaning recorded somewhere but cannot find it. This also I will let you have I hope before long. [2]
The two other names Voo-gee and Vyang I do not know, nor can I suggest what part of Australia they may belong to. Indeed they have a very unAustralian sound to my ear.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Through Australia from Adelaide to Darwin, with Gillen, an expedition which took place and was funded partially by David Syme, the newspaper proprietor.
[2] See here for Gardiners Creek
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Howitt to Spencer letter 26
"Heanor"
Finch St
26/1/01
My dear Spencer
You were so good as to say that you would like to see some more of my "Mag-op" [1] and I have here sent you the rough draught of chapter 8. I am not in the least satisfied with it -- so that please pull it to pieces as much as you can. Your criticisms are of the greatest value to me and I feel deeply indebted to you for the trouble you have taken.
I am afraid you will find central Australia a awful Desert unless good rains break up this Drought at once [2]
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Possibly 'magnum opus'?
[2] There was a bad drought just before Spencer and Gillen's expedition through central Australia which proved logistically problematic for them.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 27
Finch St
East Malvern
7 Mch 1901
My dear Spencer
I have now looked up my notes. Berak [1] (who is called by Dr Leeper [?] the "old King") spoke to me of the Bullroarer a "Ball-berau-gan" -- it is extremely difficult to catch the exact sound of the vowels and "Bau-berau" and "Berbero" are evidently the same as reported by two different hearers. When I go to Coranderrk [2] next I will find out what should be retained Dr Leeper's suggestion that "possibly he meant the wood of some gum tree" does not recommend itself to me. Each Eucalypt has special name, which would be used, either alone or in combination with "Kalk" or "talk" = wood.
--"Miman-gurk" I do not know -- but will enquire. The blacks there with Berak were probably "Dirk" a man of the Thagunworung [3] tribe about Kilmne [?], and "Major" -- a man of the extreme N.W. section of the Ja-jau-worung [4] from near St Arnaud. [5] The above word may have been used by them. Almost every tribe uses a different name -- or at least every group of tribes attending the same ceremonies.
The word used by Andrew Reilly [?] is properly "Tun-doon". Berak ought to know the word, which belongs to the Kurnai -- because I took him with me to the Kurnai Jeraeil -- where the word was used constantly [insert] in a part of the initiation [end insert]
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
P.S. Tundun is the Son of Mungan-ngaua -- "our father" and comes down to the Jeraeil to make the boys into men. He is also the porpoise. The [insert] large [end insert] bullroarer is named after him -- and the smaller one is called Wrukeel" or the "woman" -- in this sense "wife" of Tundun.
Notes
[1] 'Berak' is portrayed in a photograph here, taken from Howitt's 1904 Native Tribes of South-East Australia figure 11, he is described as 'Berak, one of the Wurungerri [Wurundjeri] tribe'. He was William Barak, (1824-1903) Aboriginal spokesman. See here and here.
[2] An Government Aboriginal reserve first established in 1863. See here.
[3] Possibly what this map in wikipedia spells Taungurong
[4] Possibly what this map in wikipedia spells Djadjawurung
[5] St Arnaud.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 28
Melbourne
30 Aug 1901
My dear Spencer
I have to acknowledge your letters of June 20, and July 17 which have remained for too long unanswered. My delay in replying is due to the fact that I have been working against time to complete the reclassification of the Service before the end of this month. I am more than thoroughly sick of the Public Service, and the Audit Office and long to get away to more congenial work. I am afraid however that I shall not be free before Xms. I congratulate you on the success of your expedition over which Fison and I rejoice. [1] He spent an evening here the other last week and we had a great talk about "blackfellows", including your discovery in the Kaitish tribe of Atnatu the man in the sky country I took the opportunity of reading to Fison my chapter on beliefs, which I have expanded as you suggested. I have added all I can find recorded by others bearing upon the questions about which I wrote, and also as to the belief in the "tribal all father". It has improved the chapter very much. Fison was good enough to say that he had no suggestions make to improve it. [sic] I do not know whether it will prove to be so, but at present I seem to perceive four main "provinces of belief" (If I may use such an expression) in Australia, excluding Western Australia. First there is the area of the two class system of which the Dieri is the type, extending from Lake Eyre westwards into the Desert, northwards to where it meets the four & eight class systems of your field of work, and southwards as far at least as Pt Augusta. In this "province" there is a belief in a sky country, where the Mura-muras in part exist as the moon, stars &c, and part in in part they still remain on the earth inhabiting trees. But so far I have not traced the existence of the "man in the sky", except in one legend, which however comes to me from the northern part of the area, north of Lake Eyre, in the a tribe having the two classes Maleri & Kurarie but which must be close to the four or eight class tribes. In the legend "Arawotya who lives in the sky" lets down a hair-cord only it chains up by him the actors in the legend. The locality so far as the legend reveals it seems so far to the north of the northern end of Lake Eyre. May it not indeed refer to the Kaitish belief? If that be so then the Lake Eyre tribes do not seem to have a belief in the "man in the sky".
The second "province" seems to me to be the area in which you are working, the beliefs in where the beliefs, as well as the organisation of the tribes, seem to me to be in advance of those in the Lake Eyre tribes. Yet in some respects, the mura-muras resemble the Alcheringa ancestors. The third province seems to be the coastal regions from the Murray mouth [illegible], at least as far as the Bora ceremonies entered [?extended] within the Queensland tribes. Possibly as far even as Cardwell [2] for I have now the following "there lives in the sky a being called Kohiri of whom the Herbert River blacks speak, to those in whom they have confidence as their "father". He is described as a gigantic blackfellow, who fights with and kills those he meets. His path to the earth is Kulumbi [insert] Ricling [end insert] the Milky Way, along which the spirits of the dead go. He is angry when people eat things which are forbidden to them or take women of the wrong name". This comes to me from a man, who had the opportunity of being present at their ceremonies but neglected it. It may be merely a coincidence, but may be more, that the equivalent of Daramulun, at Port Keplues [?] in N.S.W. is Koin. The fourth province is Northern Queensland in which Mr Roth works. [3] So far I have nothing thereon (excepting the quotation just given) to shew me what the beliefs are. It seems to me that these three "provinces" shew three stages of mental & social advance. In your area the movement seems to have been & be still, from North to South, and I expect a similar movement, but [illegible because creased] the coastal tribes of S.E. Australia who are the furthest away have seemingly made the greatest advance.
I mention all this because it may interest you to see in which direction I am making.
I am now, on Fison's suggestion going to send Frazer [4] a copy of my 8th chapter, as a rough draft, to show him what the belief in mura-muras really seems to be. I am also preparing a paper on the mura-muras for the Anthrop Inst, giving Siebert's legends in extenso. [5] Finally I have a paper which May has prepared, also on some tribes legends, for the Franklin Press [?] so tell Frazer we have some material in which to reply to Andrew Lang, Now you will I fear think that I am very much to [sic] egotistical, but I think you like to know what I am doing. Everything we hear from you is very interesting to us -- and we look forward to the Age for your papers & the reprinted [?] photos. These are creating a general and lively interest in your work. By the bye the Echunpa Oknirabata is much amused by the portrait of him and delighted that he is able though distant to help you in your work. [6] Kind regards to Mr Gillen and best wishes for your success. Both of you.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
[Separate sheet, incomplete, in another's handwriting][7]
ak.. accou...
Page 10 67. "woman how ruby is that we have forgotten all about our original ancestors"
comes this idea is since the agent of the white man. It is a case of reincarnation. ?do the native think that every Koi or Wanwu or whatever they call them can undergo reincarnation
[By the side of above] I can get no proof here that the Koi [insert] of the Tully [end insert] undergoes reincarnation. At Cape Bedford the blacks certainly believe that wan-wu is reincarnated, but into a white person
68. But lit [sic] in the whole lot it is intensely interesting. There is something I don't quite understand about this ngai. The chances are that as an individual is often mature before the father dies he or she will not have any ngai till they are well on in years yet the second line seems to intimate our association between ngai & the beast pallutating.[?] Talk to them during "sleep" and this causes dreams" -- what about dream before the individual has a ngai?
[By the side of above] you will see further down -- on 15th line -- that the chi-i has similar subjective sensation as the ngai.
Fig 3 & 4 strongly suggestive of the spots haunted by [note ends here]
Notes
[1] The Spencer and Gillen expedition took place in 1901-2, it commenced in Adelaide 15 March 1901 and ended in Melbourne 17 March 1902. This letter was written some 6 months into the expedition, presumably addressed to Spencer at one of the way-stations (mostly overland telegraph stations). Spencer was sending back regular reports for David Syme to publish in The Age. It was presumably the successes which Spencer was writing about there (and the contents of his letters back to Fison and Howitt amongst others) that Howitt is referring to. See here for some of the letters Spencer sent to Fison during this time. See here for much more information about that expedition.
[2] In north Queensland, see here.
[4] James Frazer
[5] Howitt and Otto Siebert. 1904. 'Legends of the Dieri and Kindred Tribes of Central Australia' Journal of the Anthropological Institute, Vol. 34, (Jan-Jun, 1904), pp. 100-129
[6] See p. 62 of Jason Gibson's 'Addressing the Arrernte, FJ Gillen's 1896 Engwura Speech' Australian Aboriginal Studies Journal June 2013 pp. 57-72, the man nicknamed the Echunpa by Spencer and Gillen was Howitt himself. Echunpa (or Atyunpe, crook-nosed or perentie) referred to Howitt's large and distinctive nose. As Gibson says:
How these labels came to be applied to each man was explained 14 years later by Spencer (1912a) in a New York Times article: We endeavoured by means of sketches to give them [the Arrernte men] some idea of the personal; features and relative sizes of our friends Dr. Howitt and Dr. Fison (the explorers chiefs) whom we described as great Oknirabata, men of immense weight among the tribe of the Southeast, to whom we had to report all we found out, who would at once know if what we told them about the Arunta men was ‘crooked’ and not ‘straight’. After consideration, the old men came to the conclusion, exactly why we could not find out, that Howitt was a great Echunpa (lizard) and Fison a great Achilpa (wildcat) man. [2013: 62]
Gibson suggests that 'the anthropologists from Melbourne (more than 2000 kilometres away) had been allocated dreamings that could make them the classificatory sons, fathers or grand- fathers to Gillen and Spencer. Given Howitt and Fison were both described as elders, then it would be safe to assume that their relationship to Gillen and Spencer was either that of classificatory father or father’s father.' [2013: 63]
[7] I think these may be part of Spencer's notes on Howitt's chapter
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Howitt to Spencer letter 29
"Clovelly" [1]
Metung
16 May 1902
My dear Spencer
Your letter of 8th inst was a great pleasure to me and I wish that I could have a good talk with you about your great journey. [2] I can well understand that you look back to it with pleasure and satisfaction. The pleasure remains and the trouble & annoyance becomes less in memory when all past and gone.
I was very glad to get free for the last twelve months work of regrading the Public Service was a thankless job which lessened ones belief in human nature and in political human nature as well. I have been constantly at work on my book but the hindrances have been great. First I lost a month in G... [illegible] Tasmania to the Aust.Ass meeting. [3] Then there was the moving here and the settling ourselves down which took up much time. Even now I am building additions to the house &c. Then for the last five or six weeks I have scarcely had any time to work. My son in law Godfrey Anderson [4] who lives on our Bairnsdale property has been so seriously ill that my wife and two grown daughters and Godfreys sister Ethel have been more or less al required to nurse him -- last week my other married daughter went there and I got a telegram calling me up. There is no hope of his recovering but he still lingers on poor fellow in an almost completely paralised [sic] condition. Yesterday I drove down here (18 mile) and tomorrow morning I go back by steamer. When he dies, poor fellow, I shall find my hands full settling up his affairs, so that my work is now practically at a stand still. [sic] I have however got nine chapters of the twelve all ready for a complete clear revise. I rewrote the chapter on Beliefs -- expanding it as you suggested and then send [sic, sent] a duplicate to Dr Frazer who wrote me a very nice letter. I have now sent him chapter on Local and Society Organization (100 pages) also completely rewritten. I am now making a clear copy of the chapter on Marriage which has been also rewritten. I shall have great pleasure in sending you these for perusal shortly and also completes of all the remainder as soon as I can complete it.
I think this is all I can report about my self at present excepting that I hope to complete the work in spite of all distracts [sic] before the end of this year
With kind regards
yours faithfully
AW Howitt
Notes
[1] This house still seems to exist and appears now to be a guest house.
[2] Spencer had now returned to Melbourne from the 1901-2 expedition with Gillen.
[3] Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in 1902.
[4] Godfrey Howitt Anderson (1869-1902), the son of Robert Anderson and Edith Mary Howitt (who must presumably have been a relative our AW Howitt, possibly his sister in which case Godfrey was his nephew and first cousin to his wife). He married Margaret Maude Howitt, Howitt's third daughter, in 1898.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 30
Metung
15 Sep 1902
My dear Spencer
It was a great pleasure to once more see your handwriting. I sympathise with you in your terrible and anxieties [sic] which are indeed very serious ones and must very much interfere with your work.
I am afraid that we are only at the beginning of financial troubles. We have sold our land and treated the capital price as revenue: a proceeding that in a private individual would be called reckless madness -- now we shall suffer for it. To add to this there is the reckless legislation of the past two years which indeed accounts in great measure for our troubles. Your University troubles [1] have been a very great surprise to me because I could not have any knowledge of them never having had anything to do with the inspection. I shall be very sorry indeed if you return to England and if you go there will be no one to fill your place. I hope against hope that in some manner it may come about that you will not leave us.
I thank you very much for the table of Mara and Anula marriage and descents. I have not met with a similar case, although theres something approaching it in the subclass & totemed marriage of the Wiradjuri & Ura ...lubin [?] tribes of (Lachlan & B... [illegible] Rivers).
There is a tribe on the Herbert River (East coast), which has four sub-classes in forms of the Killgila = Nanki, Wango-Oboo subclass -- and in which I have I have computed a further subdivision. My informant [illegible] this "a young woman who is a Wunguruigan arrived at Marupabluya. There are two Gurgurus called Crulliers. [?] She was to be married to the elder of them. I asked her why she should not go to the younger man. She replied "Cant marry that one, he no straight fella, he no nemb me" [insert] From [end insert] What I could learn he is like a half brother to her. I made further enquiries from blacks 40 miles away when all said the same thing. The parties being known to them". Thus my correspondent -- who then left the district. Since then I have been endeavouring in vain to get further information, but these new arrangements have given it best and gone into nirvana. I also have written to Roth but have not heard from him about it yet. Since the Winegu and Gurguru subclasses intermarry -- the facts that two gurgurus one is "tabu" seems to point to a suborder of the subclass. I note that you say "I believe that every so called four class tribe has four divided into eight groups" Is not this rather a large belief? They may all be so in northern Australia -- but I do not think that the Kamilaroi or Wiradjuri have advanced beyond the four. Remember that the changes have been effected from two original classes -- would it not be strange if there were none of the intermediate stages left in existence?
You ask how I am getting on. Well -- but slowly. I have had all kinds of hindrances in one way or another taking me off my work -- although I general manage to have a couple of hours a day.
Since my son-in-law Godfrey Anderson died I have had to be frequently at Bairnsdale. There my son Gilbert took the property in hand and has started dairying. I have had to go there constantly and this work means going there to escape the painters. I do not [illegible] feel like able to do a stroke of work -- and shall be nothing while there but a carpenter & joiner working in the milking sheds and separating room. However I hope to have done my book by the end of the year. I have rewritten my chapter on Beliefs, on medicine men and Relationships and have completed a chapter on Tribal Government. If you would care to see them i will with great pleasure send them to you.
The other day I received the enclosed letter from the Anthrop. Inst. I have looked over Mr Mathews paper. So far as I can judge of the Kamilaroi it seems correct but it does not go very far. I should much like to know what your opinion of the matter is. Is the Assist Sec. name Fallaize?
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] See Mulvaney and Calaby, 1985: 222, the University of Melbourne was on the brink of ruin brought on by decreasing government support
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Howitt to Spencer letter 31
The Grand Hotel
24 April 1903
My dear Spencer
As I shall be here for a few days say to and including Wednesday next -- can we have a chat at some time convenient to you, say at the museum [1] -- or will you come and have lunch at the Grand? If so let me know which day -- at 1 pm.
I am down as you will I dare say see in the papers with my colleagues to get some evidence after that we return to Sydney and I hope to be down with this work at the end of May if everything will work out as I hope. [2]
I want very much to get back to my own particular work and to finish my book as soon as [sic] I hope that you are well and that your great new work has been completed [3].
yours faithfully
AWHOwitt
P.S. I omitted to say that my wife is here with me --
Notes
[1] National Museum of Victoria, of which Spencer was honorary Director.
[1] Howitt was one of the Commission established to recommend the siting of the capital city of Australia, following Federation in 1901.
[3] Northern Tribes of Central Australia
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Howitt to Spencer letter 32
51 Macleay Street
Potts Point
Sydney
1 June 1903
My dear Spencer
I received the enclosed letter the other day and have carried it about since thinking over what kind of reply to make. I think that Mr Crawley is thinking of some things in your work rather than in any of mine. [1]
Can you say anything? If you can and like to say it & will with pleasure send it in my reply -- and of course as coming from you.
I have received a copy of the work he refers to, sent to me by Mr Lacy and have looked it over but as yet have not had time to do more.
What I have seen shows me that I must without avoidable delay get my book out. I hope to have this "blessed" Federal Sites report done so far as I am concerned in a fortnight and I further hope [missing word -- I] shall have appended my valuable signature to it (in Melbourne) by the end of the month. I shall then go home and set to work with the intention of having my book finished by Xmas.
This brings me to the next thing I wanted to mention, that I have received an offer from Macmillan & Co to publish my book on the "half profits system" which is very satisfactory. [2]
I hope that yours is now quite off your mind and satisfactorily on its way to being published.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] (Alfred) Ernest Crawley (1867-1924). He had published 'The Mystic Rose: a study of primitive marriage' in 1902. In Gillen's letter of 29 October 1902 [Spencer papers, Gillen letter 147, PRM] he says 'I would cheerfully give five little golden pounds, ... to be in a room with you and Crawley MA for a couple of hours. That is, presuming you have read his book. I have just finished it. 'S and G have in their important work I think too easily given their assent to Fison and Howitt's interpretation of Group Marriage as proving Early Promiscuity'. [See My Dear Spencer, page 411]
[2] The Native Tribes of South-east Australia, published in 1904 in London by Macmillan. The half profits system was a good deal for an author with limited sales, like Howitt.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 33
The "Grosvenor" Hotel
Sydney 1st Aug 1903
My dear Spencer
In the deep sorrow which has come upon us your sympathy has been very precious and I should have written to you before but I feel too sad to do so. [1] The shock of the news which came suddenly to me here through the telephone was almost more than I could bear but I see now that it was best that it should have been when it was instead of here or elsewhere. It was caused by failure of the heart and none of us knew nor did my dear wife I am sure suspect that death might come at any moment. She was staying a few days with our second daughter Mrs E.S. Whittaker [2] and our third daughter Mrs Anderson [3] was [sic] with her. She was going into her bedroom with them when she fell back as if in a faint and never recovered consciousness.
She had been with me here for two months and went back to get our house at Metung ready for my return. While here I was so much occupied that she went about very much alone -- as well as returning to Melbourne by her self. It is too terrible to think of what her death must have been to us all if it had occurred at such a time.
I tell all this my dear friend because I not only fully appreciate your kind remarks about our personal relations but because I reciprocate them. I am glad that you have told me and for the future shall feel that I have acquired a new and very dear relative.
I expect to be in Melbourne about the thirteenth and wish very much to see you. We can arrange a meeting as I sill be two two or three days before I go to Bairnsdale, which will now be my home. May & I are now going to finish my book -- with the least possible delay.
May and Maude are here with me and I am sure that the short change of scene will do us good.
I hope that you have good accounts of Mrs Spencer
I am my dear Spencer
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] Howitt's wife, Maria, died in 1903.
[2] Possibly Annie Howitt who married Edward Whittaker
[3] Margaret Maude Howitt.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 34
"Lastwood"
Bairnsdale
13 Oct 1903
My dear Spencer
I feel that I have not treated you well in keeping your last letter so long unanswered. But it contains much that I had to think about before doing so. What you say about the Urabunna is not perhaps more than one might expect from their vicinity to the Arunta. But the question whether the Dieri hold the same views is one that I cannot reply to. It may be that they do although I know nothing so far which suggests it, and the fact that the murdus descend to the children and that occasionally a man gives his murdu to them may tell against, either view perhaps. At any rate in travelling from the Arunta south eastward there must be some point beyond which the "reincarnation" belief does not extend. I see no other course at present than to write to Kilallpanina [sic][1] and if possible obtain Sieberts address and put the question to him, or also perhaps ask the chief missionary there (whose name I have recorded somewhere) to make enquiries. You see I am in a very uncertain state.
I thank you very much for your most kind invitation and shall have very great pleasure in inflicting my self on you when next I go to Melbourne. Indeed I shall very much like to have an evenings talk over certain things in connection with my book before long.
I am now completing it and have got so far that about half of it is being [illegible] is just ready to be typewritten for McMillan. [sic] I hope to have it finished about the New Year.
I suppose that your book is now in the printers hand -- indeed it must be so for in a note I had today from Dr Tylor he says that he has been "carefully reading the sheets of S & G's new book" --
I hope that I have not omitted to refer to any other point in your note, but I have unfortunately put it aside so carefully that I cannot put my hand on it. If I have omitted anything please excuse me.
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Notes
[1] The Bethesda Mission at Killalpaninna.
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Howitt to Spencer letter 34
"Lastwood"
Bairnsdale
9 Nov 1903
My dear Spencer
I write just a line to say that I shall be in town next week and if quite convenient to Mrs Spencer shall be very happy to become your guest for a couple of nights, namely Wednesday and Thursday 18 & 19" instant.
I have many things I wish to talk over, especially the Dieri ceremonies which I am convinced are the analogous of the Intichiuma.
The Dieri information, which I have not obtained, and which I am sure is there waiting to be brought to light, is troubling me a good deal as you can imagine. Then I want to discuss Andrew Lang, [illegible, another name possibly Major ...] &c &c and their views
I expect to see Fison on Tuesday and shall have a good talk with him that evening, in preparation to one with you.
With kind regards
yours faithfully
AWHowitt
Transcribed by AP September / November 2013.
