The Karanja (Karanya) were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland.

Country

The Karanja, a people of the Channel Country, are estimated by Norman Tindale to have had tribal lands extending over approximately 2,400 square miles (6,200 km2), taking in Bedourie, the Georgina River and King Creek, and reaching south to Cluny and Glengyle. Their western boundaries were around Moorabulla (Mount David).[1]

History of contact

When whites first began to settle the area in 1876, the Karanja were calculated to be around 250 people. Within a seven years, this figure dropped to 180, with settlers claiming that the reduction was caused by consumption and venereal disease.[2]

Lifestyle

The Karanja, other than what they could gather from hunting local game, relied on a bread cake made from nardoo seeds as a staple.[2]

Alternative names

  • Karenya
  • Kurrana (from karana, meaning 'mkan')
  • Mooraboola (toponym)
  • Moorloobulloo
  • Ngulubulu (language name)
  • Ooloopooloo (garbled mishearing of their name)[1]

Notes

    Citations

    1. 1 2 Tindale 1974, p. 174.
    2. 1 2 Machattie & Little 1886, p. 366.

    Sources

    • Machattie, J. O.; Little, S. J. (1886). "Junction of King's Creek and the Georgina River." (PDF). In Curr, Edward Micklethwaite (ed.). The Australian race: its origin, languages, customs, place of landing in Australia and the routes by which it spread itself over the continent. Vol. 2. Melbourne: J. Ferres. pp. 366–369.
    • Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Karanja (QLD)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University Press. ISBN 978-0-708-10741-6.
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