The Dhuwal are an indigenous Australian people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Language Dhuwal belongs to the Yolŋu-Matha branch of the Pama-Nyungan language family.
Country The Dhuwal were described by Norman Tindale in 1974 as one of two groups of clans, the other being the Dhuwala, both living predominantly in the coastal area facing the Arafura Sea, and inhabiting the east Arnhem land coastal area reaching from Castlereagh Bay, Buckingham River, and the Koolatong River to the vicinity of Port Bradshaw. Tindale's approximate estimate of their land estates' extension, calculated together with that of the Dhuwala, was . In 1927 the missionary J. C. Jennison wrote down a list of some 900 words he heard from the indigenous people of Elcho Island, and modern linguistic analysis indicates that this word-list consists of vocabulary from the Dhuwal language. The implication is that Dhuwal estates also existed on that island.
History of contact The first European to come in contact with the Dhuwal, the Balamumu (seafolk/coastal people) at Caledon Bay, was Matthew Flinders. Two were shot dead in skirmishes. A short word-list was compiled of their language.
Social organization Dhuwal society is organized in terms of eight clans, all belonging to the Dua moiety of the Yirritja/Dia binome: Tjambarupingu Leiagawumir Leiagalawumir (Leyagalawumirr, Liaalaomir, Laigalawumiri, Laigulawulmiree) Datiwui (Datiwuy) Marangu (Marrangu, Marrakuli, Merango) Marakulu (Marrakulu, Maragulu) Djapu Dapuingu
Alternative names Balamumu (southern exonym for the coastal tribes around Caledon Bay, meaning 'sea/coastal folk') Barlamomo, Barlamumu Malag (from the word mala, meaning 'sea') Marlark Arrawiya Banjarrpuma Bilamandji Dhurili (mainly used of clans to the south) Durilji
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