K Langloh Parker

Australian Legendary Tales--Folk-lore of the Noongahburrahs as told to the piccaninnies
The Euahlayi Tribe--A Study of Aboriginal Life in Australia

These books were published circa 1900 and this historical context must be kept in mind when reading them. There are some misconceptions, racist comments and inaccurate descriptions of aboriginal spiritual practices. Nevertheless, they provide valuable information about aboriginal folklore and cultural and spiritual beliefs.

Parker lived in the Australian outback in the late nineteenth century. As she said in the introduction to 'The Euahlayi Tribe', "The following pages are intended as a contribution to the study of the manners, customs, beliefs, and legends of the Aborigines of Australia. The area of my observation is mainly limited to the region occupied by the Euahlayi tribe of north-western New South Wales, who for twenty years were my neighbours on the Narran River. I have been acquainted since childhood with the natives, first in southern South Australia; next on my father's station on the Darling River, where I was saved by a native girl, when my sisters were drowned while bathing. I was intimate with the dispositions of the blacks, and was on friendly terms with them, before I began a regular attempt to inquire into their folk-lore and customary laws, at my husband's station on the Narran, due north of the Barwon River, the great affluent of the Murray River."

Updated 4 August 04

Our supporters