Ngambaa Explained
The Ngamba were an Australian Aboriginal people of New South Wales.
Language
The Ngamba language is poorly described because little has been transmitted of its nature. It is generally believed to have been similar to Gumbaynggirr.
Country
Ngamba territory comprised some 900mi2 from Port Macquarie and the vicinity of Rollands Plains south to the Manning River. The inland extension has not been ascertained.
People
A few remnants of the original tribe were attested as still living in 1929, when A.R. Radcliffe-Brown described them as lingering on with descendants of the Ngaku and Daingatti. According to the reminiscences of Harry Buchanan, they had been systematically and savagely exterminated by the Australian native police.
Customs
The Ngamba exploited the mangrove species Avicennia marina for its bark in order to fashion their military shields.
Alternative names
Notes
Citations
Sources
- Book: Duke, Norman C. . Australia's Mangroves: The Authoritative Guide to Australia's Mangrove Parts . 2006 . MER . 978-0-646-46196-0 .
- Book: Eades, Diana . Gumbayngirr . 1979 . Handbook of Australian Languages . Dixon . Robert M. W. . Robert M. W. Dixon . Blake . Barry J. . Barry Blake . . 1 . 243–360 . https://books.google.com/books?id=M-e2NLMKgqQC&pg=PA249 . 978-0-708-10741-6 .
- Notes on Totemism in Eastern Australia . Radcliffe-Brown . A. R. . Alfred Radcliffe-Brown . . July–December 1929 . 59 . 399–415 . 10.2307/2843892 . 2843892 .
- Book: Tindale, Norman Barnett . Ngamba (NSW) . 1974 . Norman Tindale . Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names . . http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/ngamba.htm . 978-0-708-10741-6 .
