“Billa” bila = “a river” stream: Günther WIRA (Fraser) [73:49] [WIRA]

“Beelah” bila = “a creek” stream: SofM 1896 09 12 [p.12.1: DDB-WIRA] [12.1:7] [WIRA]

“Billugh” bila = “River” stream: SofM 1899 10 21 [Kable/Coe] [154.2:2] [WIRA?]

“Billa” bila = “River” stream: SofM 1900 05 21 [Tibbetts] [63:179] [WIRA]

 

Gunther was one of the principal recorders of the Wiradhuri language. ‘SofM’ refers to the anthropological journal, Science of Man.

 

Variations of the Wiradhuri word for ‘stream’ follow.

 

“[Billaga ngunningura]” bilaga = “[the other side of the creek]” stream: Mathews WIRA 1904 [290:21.1] [WIRA]

“[Nilla ware maganne billaga]” bilaga = “[he was drowned in the river.]” stream in: Günther WIRA (Fraser) [114:2.3] [WIRA]

“[wimbu guyabu billaga warranna.]” bilaga = “[the fire, and the fish which are in the river;.]” stream in: Günther WIRA (Fraser) [117:24.3] [WIRA]

 

“Billabong” bilabang = “a side creek” ox-bow lake: SofM 1896 09 12 [JJB WIRA] [12.2:41] [WIRA]

“Billabong” bilabang = “Creek” stream: SofM 1896 08 10 [JM WIRA] [12.32:6] [WIRA]

“Billabang” bilabang = “the Milky Way” Milky Way: Günther WIRA (Fraser) [73:50] [WIRA]

 

It is interesting to note that the Milky Way was perceived as a ‘river’ in the sky.

It is even more interesting to note that the very same word for ‘stream’ was used in the south-west corner of the continent, about four thousand kilometres distant.

 

NYUNGAR

The following are Nyungar records for ‘stream’, first bil and then bila:

“beel” bil = “river, a” stream: [4 (b)] Grey [:362:2] [Minang]

“beil” bil = “river” stream: [11] Hassell AA 1894 [?] [:361:46] [NYUNGAR]

 

“be-lo” bila = “river, a; a stream” stream: [4] Grey 1840 [:362:5] [NYUNGAR]

“bi-lo” bila = “river, a” stream: [5] Symmons 1841 [:362:3] [Wajuk]

“Bilo” bila = “A stream; a river. No names are given to rivers as proper names, but the localities and resting-places on their banks are designated with great minuteness. ….” stream: Moore 1842 [:11:15] [NYUNGAR]

“bilo” bila = “river, a” stream: [6] Brady 1845 [:362:4] [NYUNGAR]

“billo” bila = “river; stream” stream: [8 (E)] Salvado [:362:8] [Balardung]

“Bila” bila = “river” stream: Bates Grammar [:82:10] [NYUNGAR]

“bee-la” bila = “river” stream: [19] Isaacs 1949 [:361:48] [NYUNGAR]

“beeler” bilir = “river” stream: [24] Hassell, Edney [:361:39] [NYUNGAR]

“pillyi” bilyi = “river” stream: [13] Rae 1913 [:361:40] [NYUNGAR]

 

There is also a record for bilabang, However, in the west the meaning is a little different:

“Bilorbang” bilabang = “A person living on the banks of a river.” stream dweller: Moore 1842 [:12:2] [NYUNGAR]

 

Two other meanings associated with water and derived from the stem bila are the following:

“beelagur” bilagur = “river people” stream people: [12] Bates 1913 [:362:12] [NYUNGAR]

“beladger” biladyir = “drown” drown: [23] Buller-Murphy [:258:52] [Dordenup [Wardandi]]