Mulbarapa
Mulbarapa[1] are a Yaraldi[2] Kukabrak (Ngarrindjeri) clan.
Homeland
Mulbarapa country extends along the Lake Alexandrina (South Australia) shoreline from Poikangk to Pemandang Bluff where Ngurunderi alighted from his bark canoe after having cut up Pondi (or Ponde - Murray cod). Ngurunderi's footprints, anthropologists Berndt & Berndt were informed, could be seen imprinted on stone until they were broken up (some time before the Berndts commenced work in the area). From the Bluff, the boundary skirted a native track to Lalanganggel (Mt Misery), where two large permanent sandhills represent the place where Ngurunderi camped. The boundary extends south-east to north of Albert Hill, then north-east of Kutingwar and northwards to a point north by north-east of Minmulewar. South-east of Minmulewar, passing Trewunang Swamp (from trewari, shag or Cormorant) or salt lake (where wild currants grew in abundance). This was Yelpundewar's country, an uncle of George Low, extending from Trewunang to Punguldulin [place of the kangaroo rat (bandicoot?)], it was surrounded by scrub to the west.
Flora and fauna
Mulbarapa country was well supplied with food. In the mallee scrub at the back of Pemandang there were large numbers of Tulatji (wallaby), Wangyumi (kangaroo), Pindjuli (emu), Wiruringguri (mallee hen) and Talkundjeri (wild turkey). Mulbarapa Ngatji - Nongkalalwari (mountain duck) and Trewari (a black-backed and white-winged cormorant or shag is distinguished from the large shag, Yoldi).
Kandjuri and Wiloki yams and the Kukindji and Moronggoni potatoes were dug, while Karangki (currants) and Ngalaii (yacca grass honey) were gathered. There was also good fishing in Poikangk Bay.
Traditions and ceremonies
Mulbarapa are allied to Pinpulalindjara in that these clans call each other brother and sister, irrespective of genealogical ties. Similarity of dialect who had the right to hunt over each other's territories and the obligation to stand together against aggressors in interclan fighting. Berndt wrote that the Pinpulalindjara quite likely hived off from Mulbarapa.[3]
Mulbarapa always got members of clans other than their own to hunt the nongkalalwari (mountain duck) and the trewari (shag), but were not averse to eating them once they were killed.
In the Mulbarapi clan wild dog ceremony, men danced with plain stripes painted down their legs, but they also had pipeclay stripes on their faces and dots on their chests. This was not regarded as specifically religious, although directly associated with ngatji. Possibly they were originally pre-initiatory songs and dances.
References
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