Legend & Dreaming

Legends of the Dream-time of the Australian Aborigines as related to Roland Robinson by men of the Djauan, Rimberunga, Mungarai-Ngalarkan and Yungmun tribes of Arnhem Land; illustrated from paintings of the legendary figures made by the narrators in earth colours and charcoal

Edwards & Shaw, 1967, [New Edition], illustrated plates and black and white photographs, illustrated two-page frontispiece, landscape hardcover, dustjacket

Fair Condition, some edge and shelf wear, some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, cracked hinge, ex-library with stamps to front endpapers and title page, stickers and to back endpapers, hole in back endpaper, tape residue on covers, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, small chips and tears, some creasing, stickers to spine (see photographs)

“This is a book of the Australian Aborigines by the Aborigines, from the poetry and drama of their mythology, expressed in their painting, music, singing and dancing.
Roland Robinson, who actually lived with the tribes of the Roper River, and took part in their corroborees, camp life, hunting and walkabouts, has presented in simple and melodious prose their Dreamtime and Creation Legends, revealing to us what is nothing less than the Aboringines’ counter part of our Book of Genesis.  With painstaking care he made direct translations from the corroboree chants, noting down the legends, phrase by phrase as they were sung and tapped-out to him with drone-pipe and playing sticks.
The pictures in the text are from paintings made by the tribesmen in traditional style and with traditional materials, especially to illustrate the legends.”