kids encyclopedia robot

Punthamara facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Punthamara were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland.

Country

According to Norman Tindale, the Punthamara's tribal territories embraced roughly 3,200 square miles (8,300 km2), along the creeks flowing east of the Grey Range, whose western flank they lived about only as far as Mount Margaret and Congie. They were also present at Tobermorey, on the border with the present-day Northern Territory. Running north from Orient and Thargomindah, their lands approached the vicinity of Quilpie.

History of contact

Punthamara lands and those of many other neighbouring tribes were pegged out and squatted by Patrick Durack, who took on several members of the tribe to serve him.

Ethnography

The early ethnographer R. H. Mathews argued that the Punthamara were just one tribal group in a larger entity, which he called Wonkamurra Nation, consisting also of the Wongkumara, Kalali, Yandruwandha and Yauraworka. The notion of such artificial supratribal "nations" has been viewed skeptically by Tindale.

Social organization and customs

Male Female Children
Gurgela Giberugun Wongo /Wongogun
Banbari Wongogun Guberu /Guberogun
Wongo Banbarigun Gurgela /Gurgelagun
Guberu Gurgelagun Banbari /Banbarigun

Alternative names

  • Bunthomarra
  • Buntamara
  • Buntamurra
  • Banthamurra
  • Buntha-burra
  • Boonthamurra
  • Boontha Murra

Some words

  • kuraba. (pigweed variety of purslane).
kids search engine
Punthamara Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.