Plate 5: Portraits of the Aboriginal inhabitants. Comprises 4 vignettes of Aboriginal women and children: a woman and child of the Adelaide tribe (top left); Tutalla, a girl of the Nauo Tribe (top right); a woman of the Parnkallah tribe, Port Lincoln, with her son (bottom left); a woman of the Adelaide tribe, with her child in a kangaroo skin pouch (bottom right).

Mary Thomas, daughter of early pioneers and printing press operators, Robert and Mary Thomas, referred to Aboriginal women, in her diary (PRG 1160/6, p. 45). Please note, the language used to describe Aboriginal people is not appropriate today;

Apr. 16, 1846.    One of the natives have given me the name of Kartarnyah instead of my own proper one of Mary. I have a very old acquaintance among the black women whose name is really Kartarnyah. Their own appellations are very musical, as indeed their language in general.

This is one of 60 coloured lithographs found in the 1847 edition of 'South Australia Illustrated' by colonial artist George French Angas, together with a descriptive passage for each. The lithograph was created by W. Hawkins from Angas' original painting. The date assigned is assumed to be approximately when the lithographs were created; the original paintings were done in earlier years.

George French Angas (1822-1886), naturalist and painter, was born on 25 April 1822 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fourth child and eldest son of George Fife Angas and his wife Rosetta, née French. George French Angas sailed for Australia in 1843 in the Augustus, arriving in Adelaide in January 1844.

Angas remained in South Australia until July when he left for New Zealand. He returned to South Australia in January 1845 and remained for six months. During these visits to South Australia, Angas travelled with William Giles to the area in the vicinity of the mouth of the River Murray, and with Governor (Sir) George Grey to the south-east of the province, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. Angas recorded these journeys in watercolour drawings which were shown in Adelaide in June 1845 in the Legislative Council chamber.

Angas, George French, 1822-1886

Hawkins, W.

Treasures of the State Library of South Australia: South Australia illustrated by George French Angas

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition: Search for Angas, George French

SA Memory Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 Diary of Mary Thomas

Pictures Catalogue National Library of Australia

PictureAustralia

State Library of South Australia, General Information Factsheets Online: Aboriginal Australia