Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

1894. E. P. Ramsay, `Catalogue of Australian Birds in the Australian Museum at Sydney,' p. 2, s.v. <i>Dacelo</i>:

"Gogobera, aborigines of New South Wales."

<hw>Koradji</hw>, or <hw>Coradgee</hw>, <i>n</i>. aboriginal name for a wise man, sorcerer, or doctor. In the south-east of New South Wales, it means one of the tribal wizards, usually called "blackfellow- doctors."

1845. J. O. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 14:

"The coradgees, who are their wise men, have, they suppose, the power of healing and foretelling. Each tribe possesses one of these learned pundits, and if their wisdom were in proportion to their age, they would indeed be Solons."

1865. S. Bennett, `Australian Discovery,' p. 250:

"Kiradjee, a doctor; Grk. <i>cheirourgos</i>. Persian, khoajih. English, surgeon. Old English (obsolete), chirurgeon."

[Curious and impossible etymology.]

1865. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia, vol. i. p. 287:

"One who seemed a coradge, or priest, went through a strange ceremony of singing, and touching his eyebrows, nose, and breast, crossing himself, and pointing to the sky like an old Druid."