G'day Freda,

I don't have the references in front of me, but the (proprietor / editor / printer / distributor / ... street-seller ... ?) of the Huon Times didn't give a name ... merely complained about the sound (and characterised if as "~ ... didgerry, didgerry ...) so the claims above that the instrument doesn't make that sound rather quickly founders.

The possibility that the instrument was shared with visiting Malays is quite high. Various Islanders from north of Australia traditionally used modern Northern Territory and North Queensland areas as shore bases during their traditional fishing activities ... and also planted gardens / orchards for their food supply (even good fresh fish can get boring ... ).

Certainly some of their words must have been picked up by coastal-dwelling Aborigines ... it's probable that bamboo didges were used, particularly as 'starter' didges, as a really good 'anted out' hardwood limb was a valuable rarity ... and would have been more common in the arid interior! I'll see if I can't get the exact Huon Times quote online (via Australian National Dictionary ...?)

Regards,

Bob