Djerait facts for kids
The Djerait were an Aboriginal Australian group. They lived in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Contents
What Language Did They Speak?
The Djerait people spoke the Djerait language. It was similar to the language of the Mulluk-Mulluk people. Both were part of the Daly River language family. Their languages were like different ways of speaking the same language. They could also understand the language spoken by the Pongaponga people.
Where Did the Djerait Live?
The Djerait people lived in a specific area. This area was about 500 square miles (1,300 km2) (1,300 square kilometers). It was on the northern coast of Anson Bay. Their land stretched north towards Point Blaze.
Their neighbors were other Aboriginal groups. These included the Mulluk-Mulluk, the Madngella, the Pongaponga, and the Wogait people.
What Were the Djerait People Like?
A Jesuit missionary named Donald Mackillop once described the Djerait. He said they were a "small but intelligent tribe."
Some Djerait Words
Here are a few words from the Djerait language:
- yinnung delluk – This was a bamboo stick. People wore it through their nose.
- wennu – This was a special conical helmet. It was covered with white clay. A bone was attached to the top, holding an emu feather.
- barang – This was a dangerous night spirit. It had no nose and blank spaces instead of eyes on its face. It also had two organs on its back that helped it see very far away.
Other Names for the Djerait
The Djerait people were also known by several other names, such as:
- Tjerait
- Cherait
- Cherite
- Sherait
- Jeerite
- Scherits
- Tjiras
- Paperbark natives
