# Mutumui

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Indigenous Australian people of northern Queensland

The **Mutumui** were an indigenous Australian people of northern Queensland.

## Language

The name of the [Mutumui language](/source/Mutumui_language), now extinct, was [Eibole](/source/Eibole),[a] of which a dialect called Ongwara ('northern talk') was spoken to their north.[2][1]

## Country

The Mutumui's traditional territory spread out over an estimated 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2), covering the area of [Bathurst Bay](/source/Bathurst_Bay) and [Cape Melville](/source/Cape_Melville) southwards, at Barrow Point and the vicinity of the [Starcke](/source/Starcke_National_Park) and [Jeannie Rivers](/source/Jeannie_River).[2]

## Social organization and people

The Mutumui were divided into several [hordes/bands](/source/Band_society), each speaking a distinct dialect version of Mutumui,[1] and of which the probable names of two are known:

- *Karbungga*, the band at the Jeannie River

- *Mbambylmu*, at [Jack River](/source/Normanby_River)[b]

- *[Ithu](/source/Ithu)*?[2]

Though tooth avulsion was practised in the area, among the Mutumui is reported to have formed part of the initiatory ceremony itself.[4]

The Mutumui were essentially shore dwellers, mainly in the area around Murdoch Point and Bathurst Bay. They would make forays into the sandstone hinterland on occasion in pursuit of honey, and to hunt opossums and [rock wallabies](/source/Rock_wallaby).[5]

## History

The [Palmer River gold rush](/source/Palmer_River_Gold_Rush) following from its discovery in the area 1873 led to a large influx of people seeking to [pan](/source/Gold_panning) for quick riches during the decade of the 1870s, and this surge led to conflict and massacres during the subsequent occupation of the general region just south of the Mutumui. The Aboriginal sacred sites at [Clack Island](/source/Clack_Island) were ransacked for objects from the indigenous cultural patrimony, which included sacred bark paintings, when the physician and naturalist Richard Coppinger on board the British Royal Navy sloop, [HMS *Alert*](/source/HMS_Alert_(1856)).[6] [Punitive expeditions](/source/Punitive_expedition) in the area were carried out following the discovery of [Mary Watson's](/source/Mary_Watson_(folk_hero)) remains in 1882. She had been on [Lizard Island](/source/Lizard_Island_National_Park) and after clashes with local Aboriginal people, which led to the spearing of speared her Chinese cook, led to punitive expeditions against the natives through this area in the early 1880s. Reports of this would have reached the Mutumui and [Ithu](/source/Ithu) nearby.[6]

## Alternative names and spellings

- *Mutumi*

- *Baulam* ([Bakanambia](/source/Bakanambia) [exonym](/source/Exonym))

- *Karbungga*

- *Eibole*

- *Ongwara*

- *Jugaiwatha*

- *Mbambylmu*[2]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dialect variants of this term are Ebole/Eipolin.[1]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** In his earlier ethnographic report with Hale (1933) on the tribes of this area, Tindale wrote: "The Ongwara clan camp is principally at Mack River, the Yinini at Melville, the Eibole at Barrow Point."[3]

### Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHaleTindale193368_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHaleTindale193368_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHaleTindale193368_1-2) [Hale & Tindale 1933](#CITEREFHaleTindale1933), p. 68.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974182_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974182_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974182_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974182_3-3) [Tindale 1974](#CITEREFTindale1974), p. 182.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHaleTindale193369_4-0)** [Hale & Tindale 1933](#CITEREFHaleTindale1933), p. 69.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESharp1939263_6-0)** [Sharp 1939](#CITEREFSharp1939), p. 263.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHaleTindale193368–69_7-0)** [Hale & Tindale 1933](#CITEREFHaleTindale1933), pp. 68–69.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESutton201690_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESutton201690_8-1) [Sutton 2016](#CITEREFSutton2016), p. 90.

## Sources

- ["AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia"](https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia). [AIATSIS](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Aboriginal_and_Torres_Strait_Islander_Studies). 14 May 2024.

- Hale, H. M.; [Tindale, N.B.](/source/Norman_Tindale) (1933). ["Aborigines of Princess Charlotte Bay, North Queensland"](https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40996868). *[Records of the South Australian Museum](/source/Records_of_the_South_Australian_Museum)*. **5** (1). Adelaide: 64–116.

- [Rigsby, Bruce](/source/Bruce_Rigsby); Allen, Lindy; Hafner, Diane (December 2015). Roberts, Amy; McCaul, Kim (eds.). ["The Legacy of Norman B. Tindale at Princess Charlotte Bay in 1927: Lamalama Engagement with Museum Collections"](http://www.anthropologysocietysa.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Rigsby-et-al.-2015.pdf) (PDF). *[Journal of the Anthropological Society of South Australia](/source/Anthropological_Society_of_South_Australia)*. **39** (Special Edition: Norman B. Tindale's Research Legacy and the Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Australians): 1–25. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1034-4438](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1034-4438).

- [Sharp, R. Lauriston](/source/Lauriston_Sharp) (March 1939). "Tribes and Totemism in North-East Australia". *[Oceania](/source/Oceania_(journal))*. **9** (3): 254–275. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/j.1834-4461.1939.tb00232.x](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fj.1834-4461.1939.tb00232.x). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [40327744](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40327744).

- [Sutton, Peter](/source/Peter_Sutton_(anthropologist)) (2016). ["The Flinders Islands and Cape Melville people in history"](https://books.google.com/books?id=lAV1CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA91). In Verstraete, Jean-Christophe; Hafner, Diane (eds.). *Land and Language in Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf Country*. [John Benjamins Publishing Company](/source/John_Benjamins_Publishing_Company). pp. 85–103. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9-027-26760-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9-027-26760-3).

- [Tindale, Norman Barnett](/source/Norman_Tindale) (1974). ["Mutumui (QLD)"](http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/mutumui.htm). *Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names*. [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University).

v t e Indigenous Australian peoples in Queensland Aboriginal Ankamuti Araba Atjinuri Ayabakan Ayapathu Badjiri Bakanambia Barada Barna Baruŋgam Barungguan Bidia Bigambul Bindal Birri Gubba Bidjara (Bulloo River) Bidjara (Warrego River) Biyaygiri Bugulmara Buluwai Butchulla Bwgcolman Dalla Darumbal Djabugay/Tjapukai Djagaraga Djakunda Djankun Djindubari Dyirbal Djiru Ewamin Garrwa Geynyon Gia Giabal Girramay Goeng Goreng goreng Gubbi Gubbi Kutjala/Gudjal Gugu-Badhun/Kokopatun Gugu Rarmul Gulngai Gumakudin Gungganyji/Kongkandji Gunggari/Kunggari Guugu Yimithirr/Kokoimudji Iningai Injilarija Injinoo Ithu Jarowair Julaolinja Jupangati Juru Kaantju Kabalbara Kaiabara Kaiadilt Kairi Kalali Kalibamu Kalkadoon Kambuwal Kangulu Kanolu Karanja Kareldi Karendala Karingbal Karuwali Kaurareg Kawadji Koa Koamu Koinjmal Kokangol Kokobididji Kokobujundji Kokokulunggur Kokomini Kokonyekodi Kokopera Kokowalandja Kokowara Kongabula Kooma Kugu Nganhcara Kukatja Kuku Nyungkal Kuku Yalanji Kulumali Kungadutji Kunggara Kungkalenja Kunja Kutjal Kuungkari Laia Lama Lama Lanima Lardil Lotiga Madjandji Maiawali Maijabi Maikulan Maithakari Malintji Mamu Manbarra Mandandanji Maranganji Marrago Marulta Mayi-Kutuna Mbabaram Mbara Mbewum Mimungkum Mingin/Mingginda Mitaka Miyan Muluridji Muragan Murri Mutumui Ngajanji Ngandangara Ngaro Ngathokudi Ngaun Ngaygungu Nggamadi Nguburinji Ngulungbara Ngundjan Ngurawola Nguri Nyawagyi Nyuwathai Olkola Otati Pakadji Pitapita Pontunj Punthamara Quandamooka Hordes: Ngugi, Nunukul, Goenpul Rakkaia Ringaringa Rungarungawa Tagalag Taribelang Tepiti Thaayorre Thereila Tjongkandji Totj Tulua Turrbal Umpila Umpithamu Undanbi Unduyamo Unjadi Uw Oykangand/Kwantari Waanyi Wadja Wadjabangai Wadjalang Wakabunga Wakaman Wakara Wakka Wakka Walangama Walmbaria Waluwara Wanamara Wangan Wanjuru Warakamai Warrongo Wik Wikampama Wikapatja Wikatinda Wikepa Wikianji Wikmean Wik-Mungkan Wiknatanja Winduwinda Wiri Wongkadjera Wongkumara Woppaburra Wulgurukaba Wulili Wulpura Wuthathi Yadhaykenu Yagalingu Yambina Yanda Yanga Yangga Yanggal Yalarnnga Yetimarala Yetteneru Yidiny Yilba Yiman Yintyingka Yinwum Yirandhali Yirrganydji Yir-Yoront Yugambeh Clans: Gugingin, Wanggeriburra, Kombumerri, Mununjali, Tulgigin Yugara Yuibera Yukulta Yungkurara Yurlayurlanya Torres Strait Islanders Badu Kaurareg‎ Mabuiag Meriam Mua By state or territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mutumui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutumui) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutumui?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.