This series comprises drawings by Aboriginal people that were commissioned by members of the Board for Anthropological Research party whilst on expedition. The process is best described by Charles Pearcy Mountford in 'Aboriginal Crayon Drawings', Records of the South Australian Museum, Vol. 6, pp 1-28: 'Sheets of brown wrapping paper, approximately 50 cm. by 30 cm., were distributed, together with [red, yellow, black and white] crayons..it was especially desired that nothing external should influence the choice either of the subject, the colours chosen or the method of drawing'. The Aboriginal person 'was asked only to make marks (walka) on his paper'. (p5)

Mountford adds that intitially 'simple drawings of everyday things of aboriginal life were made, such as kangaroos, emus, trees, camps and waterholes' but after a week, confidence was gained and 'drawings relating to the travels and exploits of the aborginal's mythical ancestors began to be produced by the older man. From that time onward, no difficulty was experienced in obtaining designs, in fact, it was unfortunate that, as only a limited amount of time was available for interpretation of the detail, and the recording of the data, the distribution of sheets had to be curtailed.' (p6)

Each artist was identified by their data card identifier: see AA 346/4/12

Drawing collected and annotated by: Norman Tindale and Dr Robert Pulleine

For further information see:

• 'Anthropological Expedition to MacDonald Downs, Central Australia. Journal and field notes by Norman B. Tindale. Aug. - Sept. 1930. Adelaide, South Australia. 1930.' (AA 338/1/6)
• Sutton, Peter, 1998, 'Aboriginal Maps and Plans', The History of Cartography, volume Two, Book Three, Cartography in the Traditional African, American, Artic, Australian, and Pacific Societies, David Woodward and G Malcolm Lewis (editors), The University of Chicago Press, pp 387-416.

'No.2 native (male) c 30 yrs, Iliaura Tribe, Macdonald Downs CA. 23.8.1930. Dr R. Pulleine'

Red block drawing of people, animals and tracks.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'emu', 'man', 'perentie' and 'human foot'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Artoaraka.

Previously numbered 1 and 33.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.4 native c 27 yrs. Iliaura Tribe, Macdonald Downs. Associated with Chalmers children for c4 years'

Black, purple and light brown line drawing of people and animals.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'kangaroo', 'emu', 'perentie', 'wallaby', 'man' and 'woman'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Tjabiardu.

Previously numbered 2 and 93.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.6 native c30 yrs. Iliaura Tribe, Macdonald Downs, CA. Aug. 1930 NB Tindale'

Blue line drawing of ceremonial objects and a dingo.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Arakata.

Previously numbered 3 and 92.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.6 native (male) c.30 yrs age. Macdonald Downs, CA. Iliaura Tribe. Finished head last in all started at posterior end of animal. 8.1930. NB Tindale'

Yellow line drawing of stone tools, bush foods, hand and foot prints.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Arakata.

Previously numbered 4 and 91.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.6 native (male) c30 yrs Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 8.1930. NB Tindale'

Yellow line drawing labelled in purple and black.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'moth', 'water', 'witchetty grub', 'sun', 'night', 'fire', 'spear', 'bees', 'nest' and 'yam'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Arakata.

Previously numbered 5 and 90.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.6 native c30yrs. Iliaura Tr. Macdonald Downs. Aug.1930. NB Tindale'

Turquoise line drawing of yams and digging for yams.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Arakata.

Previously numbered 6 and 89.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.8 native (male) c 30 yrs. Mixed Iliaura & Aranda Tribe, Macdonald Downs. Lived many years under European influences. 22.8.1932. Dr R Pulleine'

Red line drawing of an Aboriginal man with boomerang, a cowboy, kangaroo, emu, perentie and dog.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Akoambaka.

Previously numbered 7 and 97.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.9 native c30 years. Iliaura Tribe, Macdonald Downs, CA. Aug.1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Dark brown line drawing of a man, two emus, perentie and kangaroo.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Altangolba.

Previously numbered 8 and 96.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.10 native (male) c48 yrs. Aranda & Iliaura Tr. mixed, Macdonald Downs, CA. 23 August 1930. DR R Pulleine'

Yellow line drawing of a man, kangaroo, emu and a perentie.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Urpmanwilyinka.

Previously numbered 9 and 34.

Tindale Tribes: Aranda; Iliaura.

'No.10 native (male) c 48 years. Aranda Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 8.1932. Dr R Pulleine'

Yellow and black drawing of a kangaroo, perentie, emu and concentric circles.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Urpmanwilyinka.

Previously numbered 10 and 94.

Tindale Tribes: Aranda.

'No.12 native (male) c65yrs. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. Coll. 8.1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Green, orange and yellow drawing of small animal figures and tracks.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Alalta.

Previously numbered 11 and 95.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.13 (male) native c25 yrs. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 23.8.1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Dark blue, brown and black drawing.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'perentie', 'lizard', 'emu', 'woman' and 'kangaroo'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Eljaruna.

Previously numbered 12 and 98.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.14 native (male) c35 years. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 8.1930. NB Tindale'

Yellow drawing.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'flying cockatoo', 'axe', 'yam', 'water', 'fire' and 'spear'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Angurukua.

Previously numbered 13 and 35.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.14 native (male) c35yrs. Macdonald Downs, CA. Iliaura Tribe. Aug.1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Yellow drawings of animals and a man.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'kangaroo', 'arandana', 'witchetty grub', 'emu', 'man'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Angurukua.

Previously numbered 14 and 36.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.19 native (male) Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs. 23.8.1930. Coll. Dr R Pulleine'

Green drawing of a man, animals and tracks.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'man', 'goanna' and 'snake'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Agarakaka.

Previously numbered 15 and 37.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.20 native c30 yrs. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA 8.1930. NB Tindale. Left handed man.'

Blue drawing of yams.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'leaves', 'stem', 'anaitya yam' and 'yam'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Dick.

Previously numbered 16 and 102.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.20 (male) native c30 yrs. Left handed. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 23 August 1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Block drawing of people, animals and tracks in green, orange and black.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'man', 'kangaroo', 'dingo', 'perentie' and 'emu'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Dick.

Previously numbered 17 and 38.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.20 native (male) c30 yrs. Macdonald Downs, CA. Iliaura Tribe. Coll. 23.8.1930. Dr R Pulleine'

Orange drawing.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Dick.

Previously numbered 18 and 99.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.20 native (male) c30 yrs. Macdonald Downs, CA. Iliaura Tribe. 8.1930. NB Tindale'

Purple and orange concentric circles.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Dick.

Previously numbered 19 and 100.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.20 native (male). Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs. 8.1930. NB Tindale'

Orange and purple drawing.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Dick.

Previously numbered 20 and 101.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.

'No.61 native (male) c32 yrs. Iliaura Tribe. Macdonald Downs, CA. 8.1930, NB Tindale. 'Met Europeans for 1st time’'

Red and purple drawing.

Labels by NB Tindale include: 'kangaroo tracks', 'yam' and 'emu tracks'.

Sociological data cards (AA 346/4/12) identify the artist as Alkngalpara.

Previously numbered 21 and 39.

Tindale Tribes: Iliaura.