This item consists of magnetic tapes recorded by Norman B Tindale during a short visit to Palm Island during 22-25 July 1963. The visit came at the end of a longer field trip to the Gulf of Carpentarian region.

The tapes contain materials in both Aboriginal languages and English, and include interviews and discussions, songs, vocabularies, and narratives.

The contents descriptions given below were taken from Tindale's handwritten annotations on the tape boxes, and are therefore brief. Fuller details of the recordings are found in the S. A. Museum Speech and Sound Collections register (relevant 'AS' reference numbers are listed below) and in pages 557-577 of Tindale's expedition field journal: 'Journal of Visit to the Gulf of Carpentaria by Norman B Tindale. 1963', AA 338/1/25.

Tindale's Palm Island 1963 recordings include the following:
AA 338/11/21/

• 'Idindji conversation & discussion with [Nelson Beiŋo] including statements about the Djirubal between Ravenshoe and Murray River. Matjandji. Innisfail people or Ma:mu. George is deaf and aged; he talks with Beiŋo about a big fight with spears nulla nullas shields and swords (pak:ur) and 'hot wira spears' near Edmonton. Nelson Beiŋo and George Gordonvale of area near Gordonvale, Palm I. 22 July 1963'
  [CD 1. Tracks 1-5. Tape No. 9616; TT72; P. Is. 5]
  
  
• 'Tree felling song by Maribi (Tommy) of Keramai tribe, Cardwell
  [CD 2. Tracks 1-6. Tape No. 9616; TT72 & Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 6; AS 632]
  
  
• songs by Mitchell Dodd (nn Mukudikarumu) of the Wakaman Tribe, Chillagoe Qu., Emu song
  [CD 2. Tracks 7-9. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 6; AS 633]
  
  
• Devil or balki balki song [..]
  [CD 2. Track 10. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 6; AS 634]
  
  
• Sleeping boy and Kitja the Morning Star' song, recorded 23 July 1963
  [CD 2. Track 10. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 6; AS 635]
  
  
• 'Discussion between Maribi (Tommy) of Keramai tribe and Tjamera (Joe Lee) of Keramai tribe
  [CD 3. Tracks 1-3. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 7; AS 629]
  
  
• Maribi's songs in Keramai language: 1. Carpet snake song
  [CD 3. Track 3. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 7; AS 630]
  
  
• Thunderstorm song, Song about two women
  [CD 3. Track 4. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 7; AS 631]
  
  
• Native dance song', recorded 23 July 1963
  [CD 3. Track 5. Tape No. 9617; TT 73; P. Is. 7
  
  
• 'Joe Lee Tjameia of the Keramai tribe describes his capture by whites at Tully when about 8 years of age'
  [CD 4. Tracks 1-5. Tape No. 9617; TT 73 & Tape No. 9618; TT74; P. Is. 8; AS628]
  
  
• Harry Gordonvale nn ŋeimbi of Idindji talks of olden days in the Idindji tongue (tape made on defective machine)', recorded 23 July 1963
  [CD 4. Tracks 6-8. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 8]
  
  
• 'Harry Gordonvale of Idindji: song about I:kan, the sky
  [CD 5. Tracks 2-3. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 9; AS636]
  
  
• song about a crocodile
  [CD 5. Tracks 4-5. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 9; AS637]
  
  
• ŋidja (George Watson) of Jordan Creek Tunkubara horde of the Ma:mu sings a love song
  [CD 5. Tracks 6-7. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 9; AS638]
  
  
• Maruga dance of Mamu by ŋidja a ghost song
  [CD 5. Tracks 8-9. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 9; AS639]
  
  
• vocabulary of Ma:mu by ŋidja of Jordan Creek; he speaks the 'light Ma:mu' of the Tunkubara horde [..]', recorded 24 July 1963
  [CD 5. Tracks 10-11. Tape No. 9618; TT 74; P. Is. 9; AS640]
  
  
• 'Vocabulary of Ma:mu: continuation of vocabulary of the Ma:mu tribe of Jordan Creek, Qu.[..]
  [CD 6. Tracks 1-3. Tape No. 9619; TT 75; P. Is. 10; AS640]
  
  
• Buran love song by ŋidja of Jordan Creek N.Qu.[..]
  [CD 6. Tracks 4-5. Tape No. 9619; TT 75; P. Is. 10; AS641]
  
  
• Songs of Djiru: tribe, [by] Pompey Clump Point nn. Ma:t Djubaru. Kukulu song of Djiru tribe; words of the song and an explanation in English', recorded 24 July 1963
  [CD 6. Tracks 6-11. Tape No. 9619; TT 75; P. Is. 10; AS642]
  
  
• 'Djiru: tribe of vicinity of Clump Point, Qu. Pompey Clump Point and associates. Continuation Ma:t Djubaru sings a gamar (dancing) song of the Irubaru Koija (travelling shoal of mullet) 1st recording disturbed by gust of wind, second noisy
  [CD 7. Tracks 1-4. Tape No. 9619; TT 75; P. Is. 11; AS643]
  
  
• Explanation some English phrases & the name Palm Island appear in the Djiru: explanation, Djiru: vocabulary by Ma:t Djubaru [..]', 24 July 1963
  [CD 7. Tracks 5-7. Tape No. 9619; TT 75 & Tape No. 9620; TT76; P. Is. 11; AS644]
  
  
• 'Ma:mu story of he first child, by ŋidja (George Watson) of the Tunkubara horde of Ma:mu tribe [..]' expanation in English and Ma:mu, recorded 24 July 1963
  [CD 8. Tracks 1-4. Tape No. 9620; TT 76; P. Is. 12; AS645]
  
  
• 'Ma:mu story of he first baby (continued). Discussion on its content by ŋidja (George Watson) F1 Ma:mu
  [CD 9. Tracks 1-3. Tape No. 9620; TT 76; P. Is. 13; AS645]
  
  
• song by Joe Garbutt (Jaŋe:ra) of Djirubal tribe at Herberton. Kamar dancing song of the djaro:gan or scrub hen
  [CD 9. Tracks 4-6. Tape No. 9620; TT 76; P. Is. 13; AS646]
  
  
• ŋidja sings song in Ma:mu language, a dancing song about small mangrove crab derived from the Djiru: tribe. No discussion', recorded 24 July 1963.
  [CD 9. Tracks 7-11. Tape No. 9620; TT 76 & Tape No. 9621; TT 77; P. Is. 13; AS647]