This is the final film production documenting the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Mt Liebig, Northern Territory during 4-25 August 1932.
The cinematographer was EO Stocker (AA 311). The expedition party included numerous Board for Anthropological Research members. The expedition party was accompanied by the informant and interpreter Tjungala ('Wheeler') of the Aranda people who also participated in the BAR expedition to Cockatoo Creek (NT), 1931 (AA 346/9/5), as well as Theo, Tom, Mick, and Rolf. See report on the BAR expedition by Max Lamshed, 'The Advertiser,' 26 August 1932.
The expedition travelled by train to Alice Springs via Quorn, Farina, Marree, Oondnadatta, Abminga, and Finke crossing. From Alice Springs the BAR party journeyed westward by motor vehicles along the northern side of the MacDonnell Ranges to Mt Liebig, Haasts Bluff. See: (AA 338/1/8), pp.20-21.
The South Australian Museum Archives Master Preservation tape (AA 346/9/6/35) consists of Reels 1-8 (AA 346/9/6/1 - AA 346/9/6/7 and AA 346/9/6/15), duration 1 hour 25 minutes 32 seconds, with intertitles.
The original master copies of the Mt Liebig expedition were processed in the BAR Film Catalogue as B#9 - B#16. This expedition film was previous held in the EO Stocker collection and was transferred into the BAR collection in December 2005.
In this summary all intertitles are italicised and within quotation marks. All spelling within intertitles have been left as originally spelt. Language and terms which reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was produced may be considered inappropriate today.
The method adopted by BAR expeditions to undertake research and record the results involved assigning a unique number to each individual (here called 'individual subject number'). This number was given the expedition symbol as a prefix, and remained consistent throughout the research. This expedition was assigned the symbol 'H.' All individuals recorded during the expedition were assigned an individual subject number, for example [H11]. Where possible the 'individual subject number' of those who appear in film have been noted.
The time coded summary is in hours, minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references. Formats Held: 16mm, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.
Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/6/39)
00:00 Mt Liebig, NT, 1932.
00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'
00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1932.'
Mt Liebig, NT, 1932. Reel 1
00:01:00 'University of Adelaide and South Australian Museum Field Anthropological Research.'
00:01:06 'Records of the fifth Anthropological Expedition to Central Australia. Mount Liebig, 1932.'
00:01:12 'These investigations were aided by a grant from the Australian National Research Council.'
00:01:17 'Photographed and arranged by EO Stocker. '
00:01:21 Typical Central Australian scene, photographed near Haasts Bluff, with a whitewash gum (Eucalyptus Papuana.)
00:01:29 A map outlines the route taken by the BAR expedition party, Adelaide to Alice Springs.
00:01:45 Heavitree Gap, in the MacDonnell Ranges, with the Alice Springs Express train in the background.
00:01:51 'Stanley Chasm, near Alice Springs.'
00:01:55 A panorama of Stanley Chasm.
00:02:13 A map outlines the route taken by the BAR expedition party, from Alice Springs to the MacDonnell Ranges.
00:02:16 'Haasts Bluff.'
00:02:20 The eastern (Injala) peak of Haasts Bluff.
00:02:28 A map outlines the location of the BAR expedition party at the MacDonnell Ranges.
00:02:31 Haasts Bluff from a point about five miles North-west of Injala.
00:02:48 Two Australian Aboriginal men looking into the distance. Four Australian Aboriginal men carrying spears and spear throwers.
00:03:10 'Central Mount Wedge in the distance.'
00:03:12 A distant view of Central Mount Wedge.
00:03:22 'The expedition's camp at Mount Liebig.'
00:03:25 The BAR expedition camp on the eastern end of Mount Liebig.
00:03:46 'A Native Map of the district.'
00:03:49 A Pintubi man draws a map in the sand.
00:04:01 'A member of the Expedition returns to camp from a far Western trip in search of natives.'
00:04:07 TGH Strehlow (AA 316) returns with a string of camels to the BAR expedition camp after visiting the country towards the Western Australian border, as far west as Mount Leisler, to invite Australian Aboriginal people in the region to visit the BAR expedition camp. He is accompanied by numerous Australian Aboriginal men one of whom is Makubardu [H16] of the Ngalia people. TGH Strehlow is assisted in unsaddling his camels by E Kramer (AA 669) a missionary associated with the Aborigines' Friends' Association (AFA) (AA 1). HK Fry (AA 105) and JB Cleland (AA 60) are seen nearby. NB Tindale's (AA 338) film summary (AA 346/9/27/2-3) states that Lilatjukurupa of the Pintubi people, acted as Strehlow's interpreter and assisted with the camels. See also: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.55.
00:05:16 'Some of the Pintubi Natives Locate the camp.'
00:05:21 The Pintubi people arrived from their camp at Alala (Thomas Reservoir, also called Ullala on the map), many miles to the south-west of Mt Liebig.
00:06:21 'The Ngalia tribe were already in camp and greeted the visitors with ceremony.'
00:06:29 The Pintubi men approach Mt Liebig, sitting down for nearly two hours at a distance of several hundred meters from the main camp. After preparations they set off at a quick run in a loose formation towards the camp of the Ngalia people, who are already established, having arrived several days previously. Approaching the cleared camping spot, the Pintubi men group themselves together into a close formation with raised spears. At the conclusion of the demonstrations by both the Pintubi and Ngalia peoples, the Pintubi men sit down and are approached by the older Ngalia men. Shortly afterwards the whole group of Ngalia men walk over to where the Pintubi men are seated and all stand up in a closed circle. They converse and exchange information regarding class names.
00:08:24 'The Pintubi women came in an hour later.'
00:08:28 As sundown approaches the Pintubi women several of them carrying children arrived at the BAR expedition camp. Several close up portraits of Pintubi women and children.
00:10:10 'Their meagre belongings were carried in bark wrappings.'
00:10:15 When their welcome is assured, the women return and bring into camp their wooden dishes, which contains food, which they have hidden in a nearby bush. Close up of a bark dish with food.
00:10:21 The Pintubi women and children sit down and eat.
00:10:29 End Part One.
00:10:34 Mt Liebig Part Two.
00:10:37 'Women spend all their days in search of roots, grubs and small mammals.'
00:10:42 A party of Pintubi women and children are shown leaving the camp at Mt Liebig in order to gather food.
00:11:15 Pintubi women use digging sticks to obtain the grubs of the Scarabid and Buprestid beetles. Some footage is shot in slow motion. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.46.
00:13:00 'The "Ingoneunga Grub" found at the Roots of dead Gum Trees.'
00:13:04 Close up of the collected grubs.
00:13:10 The Pintubi women and children sit and share the collected grubs.
00:13:16 Close up of children eating grubs.
00:14:01 'The collection and preparation of Yams (Yala).'
00:14:04 A Pintubi woman digs up the seedling and root of the Sturt bean-tree (Erythrina vespertilio).
00:14:32 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people discovers a seedling of the Sturt bean-tree (Erythrina vespertilio), he uses the butt of his spear to dig out the root. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.43a.
00:15:01 'Yala are cooked before eating.'
00:15:04 A Ngalia man starts a fire by the rotary method. Close up shots of this process. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.90.
00:16:52 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people cooks the Sturt bean-tree (Erythrina vespertilio) root in the fire, after which the root is pealed and eaten. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.44.
00:18:10 'The entrails of animals are also slightly cooked in ashes.'
00:18:14 The entrails of a kangaroo are cooked in hot ash and eaten.
00:18:43 'Leaves of the Ipalu (Marsdenia Australis) are greatly relished.'
00:18:48 Close up of the foliage and fruit of the Bush Banana (Marsdenia Australis). See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.46.
00:18:55 Mallitjukurupa [H9] of the Ngalia people eats the foliage of the Bush Banana (Marsdenia Australis).
00:19:05 'The men hunt the larger mammals such as Rock Wallabies.'
00:19:09 A group of men discuss the plan for the hunt before setting off.
00:19:32 'Some of the hunters crouch on the hillside, while others endeavour to head the game towards the ambush.'
00:19:38 An Australian Aboriginal man waits in ambush, keeping a lookout for progress of the hunt.
00:19:56 'The native is ever watchful for any kind of food.'
00:20:00 An Australian Aboriginal man has discovered a nest of honey ants.
00:20:19 'Collecting honey ants (Yeramba).'
00:20:24 Two Australian Aboriginal men dig up the earth under a tree, scooping the earth with a small wooden dish.
00:21:17 Close up of honey ants (Melophorus) in the earth.
00:21:23 Six men gather around the honey ant nest and assist in the digging.
00:22:03 Close up of collected honey ants (Melophorus).
00:22:12 Close up of one honey ant (Melophorus) on the end of a stick.
00:22:18 Ngoritjukurupa [H51] of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] and Yumu peoples eats honey ants.
00:22:30 Mt Liebig 'End Part Two.'
00:22:34 Mt Liebig Part Three.
00:22:37 'The manufacture of weapons. The Boomerang.'
00:22:40 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people, uses a metal tomahawk to chop a suitably curved branch from a mulga tree. After the branch is felled he then chops off the curved portion, and then begins to make the boomerang. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.47.
00:25:29 'Chipping Stone implements.
00:25:32 Restricted Content Starts.
00:27:00 Restricted Content Ends.
00:27:00 'Making the Spear thrower.'
00:27:03 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people, uses a stone axe to chop a piece of wood from a mulga tree. A notch is made in the tree into which he drives a wooden wedge. A metal tomahawk is used to drive the wedge under this section until the slab of mulga wood splits off. See: NB Tindale Journal. (AA 338/1/8), p.47.
00:28:32 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people, commences to trim the spear thrower with the repaired stone axe. Once the rough shape has been formed an adze is used for finishing the spear thrower. Some footage is shot in slow motion.
00:29:34 'A carefully selected Fragment of Quartzite is mounted on the handle of the spear thrower.'
00:29:39 An Australian Aboriginal man searches for the correct fragment of quartzite.
00:29:53 Attaching the quartzite fragment to the end of his spear thrower. He heats the spinifex gum on the end of the handle and in which to secure the quartzite adze.
00:31:07 'The Spear.'
00:31:09 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people, selects a suitable branch from the witchetty bush (Acacia Kempeana) in order to make a spear. Once he removes a branch he trims away the twigs with a stone adze. He then places it in the fire where the moisture within the witchetty bush stem softens the wood enough for straightening. By levering the wood with his hands against the weight of his foot the stem is straightened. Sand is used to protect his hands from being burnt. The bark is peeled off. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.47.
00:33:36 A man holding a spear and a spear thrower gesturing into the distance.
00:33:44 Wakulyari Tjukurupa [H6] of the Ngalia people, demonstrates the method of holding and throwing a spear.
00:33:51 Mt Liebig 'End Part Three.'
00:33:56 Mt Liebig Part Four.
00:33:58 'An analysis of walking and running.'
00:34:02 A woman followed by two children and a man climb an embankment.
00:34:12 A Pintubi man demonstrates the method of moving from a standing position into a sitting posture. Some footage is shot in slow motion.
00:35:03 A Pintubi man demonstrates the method of walking over smooth sandy ground and then rocky ground.
00:36:28 A Pintubi woman demonstrates methods of picking up and carrying children.
00:36:38 'Generally, babies are picked up with one hand.'
00:36:43 A Pintubi woman demonstrates the method of picking up a child with one hand.
00:37:00 'The native has a highly developed sense for making and recognising tracks.'
00:37:04 A Pintubi man imitates the track of a snake followed by the tracks of the wallaby.
00:37:21 Koneiya [H31] of the Ngalia people follows the tracks of Yalbayurunga Nalkiti [H3] of the Ngalia people who has walked over different terrains. See: NB Tindale (AA 338/1/8), p.48.
00:39:12 'Stoney country is read with apparent ease.'
00:39:16 Koneiya [H31] of the Ngalia people follows tracks over rocky ground.
00:39:43 'Native children.'
00:39:46 Women and children shelter behind a break-wind.
00:40:05 A portrait of a Pintubi woman and her child.
00:40:53 A young boy plays, seating himself in a wooden dish.
00:41:09 A young boy climbs a leaning tree trunk.
00:41:49 A small Pintubi girl plays pick-a-back with a baby.
00:41:59 'Their games fit them for their strenuous after life.'
00:42:02 A small group of Pintubi and Ngalia boys playing at hunting with bark discs. They hold one piece of stick as a shield in the left hand and another to represent a boomerang in their right hand. The boys throw their bark boomerangs at the disk when is rolled near them.
00:42:32 'The reaction of native children to civilized toys.'
00:42:37 HK Fry sits with a group of Pintubi and Ngalia children, and an arrangement of European manufactured toys which include many figures, dolls and a cow.
00:43:50 The children excitedly play at chasing a small rock wallaby which has been captured by their parents.
00:44:22 '2 Young Girls.'
00:44:25 A portrait of two Pintubi girls.
00:44:47 'Like father like son.'
00:44:50 A group of Pintubi boys have borrowed their father's shields and are playing at defending themselves from flying bark disks thrown by their friends.
00:45:23 Mt Liebig 'End Part Four.'
00:45:28 Mt Liebig Part Five.
00:45:28 Restricted Content Starts.
00:55:41 Restricted Content Ends.
00:55:41 Mt Liebig 'End Part Five.'
00:55:46 Mt Liebig Part Six.
00:55:46 Restricted Content Starts.
01:06:48 Restricted Content Ends.
01:06:48 Mt Liebig 'End Part Six.'
01:06:52 Mt Liebig. Part Seven. [No Intertitle]
01:06:52 'The Native is fond of adornment.'
01:06:55 A boy greases the face and chest of another.
01:07:10 Two Australian Aboriginal men, Mallitjukurupa [H9] of the Ngalia people walk and find a fungi which they pick.
01:07:15 'Powder Puff Fungi are used to blacken the face.'
01:07:20 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people and Mallitjukurupa [H9] of the Ngalia people decorate their faces with the black powery spores of the fungi. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.43a.
01:08:09 'The use of milk weed.'
10:08:13 Restricted Content Starts.
01:08:43 Restricted Content Ends.
01:08:43 'Wild flowers for the hair'
01:08:47 Mintun Mintun ('Comet') [H11] of the Pintubi people and Mallitjukurupa [H9] of the Ngalia people gather Cassia sturtii flowers to adorn their hair. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/8), p.43a.
01:09:08 'Animal grease coloured with clay is smeared over the face.'
01:09:12 Portrait of Walia [H25] of the Pintubi people. A series of portraits of men.
01:09:53 'Pintubi Fashions in Hairdressing.
01:09:57 Portrait of Walia [H25] of the Pintubi people and two other Pintubi men. In the background is Amunurunga Range.
01:10:23 'The Pintubi Chignon.'
01:10:26 Walia [H25] of the Pintubi people undoing his hair and rearranges his chignon.
01:12:27 Portrait of Walia [H25] of the Pintubi people.
01:12:42 Walia [H25] of the Pintubi people throwing a spear using a spear thrower.
01:12:50 'A fair haired woman.'
01:12:53 Portrait of a woman of the Luritja [Kukatja (NT)] people.
01:13:15 'The Ngalia male coiffure.'
01:13:19 A Ngalia man is shown doing up his hair
01:14:06 'The reaction of male adults to toys.'
01:14:10 A young man bounces a kookaburra puppet.
01:15:06 A group of men one of whom is Mallitjukurupa [H9] of the Ngalia people, examine and discuss with each other the group of European manufactured toys presented by HK Fry.
01:14:54 'Natives lie passive under abnormal conditions.'
01:14:58 CS Hicks and E Eldridge conduct Basal Metabolism tests with participating Australian Aboriginal individuals.
01:15:53 'Natives are fond of play.'
01:15:57 An Australian Aboriginal man walks about pretending he is being hunted. He walks up to two other men who are hiding in bushes. The three of them wrestle each other in play, laughing.
01:16:32 'Sunset over Liebig.'
01:16:35 Sunset, Mt Liebig.
01:16:16 'Towards evening wood is collected for the night fires.'
01:16:51 Fire wood is carried into camp.
01:16:59 'The men rest in camp and chew "Pitjuri" after the days hunting.'
01:17:18 An Australian Aboriginal man prepares a Pitjuri quid for chewing. The twigs of the wattle (Acacia) are burnt and the ashes collected. The Pitjuri is then rolled in the ashes and consumed.
01:17:34 'The women collect their children.'
01:17:38 Women and children shelter behind a break-wind.
01:17:45 Portraits of young babies and children.
01:18:11 'The evenings are devoted to singing and dancing around the camp fires.'
01:18:17 Night-time scene around a campfire. A group of Ngalia women and children dance towards a group of Ngalia men who are singing and clapping boomerangs. 'In evening went over to camp and organised a play dance. Got the women to dance as well as the men, Stocker took a few feet of film with flares.' (AA 338/1/8), p.34.
01:18:45 Close up of the men who are singing and clapping boomerangs. A flare has been placed in the campfire which sheds an enormous amount of light on the men.
10:20:17 'Finis.' Mt Liebig. End Part Seven.'
01:20:22 Mt Liebig Part Eight.
01:20:22 Restricted Content Starts.
01:25:32 Restricted Content Ends.
01:25:32 Mt Liebig 'End Part Eight.'
Tribal / language groups recorded during this expedition as recorded in the Data Cards (AA 346/4/14 )
Tindale Tribes: Pintubi; Ngalia; Jumu; Luritja [Kukatja (NT)]