Ngarla
# Ngarla

The Ngarla are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

## Country

Norman Tindale estimated their territory, to the west of Port Hedland, at around 2,000 square miles (5,200 $km^2),$ describing it as lying along the coast to the west of Solitary Island as far as the mouth of the De Grey River. He set their upriver boundary between Kudingaranga (Mulyie Station) and Tjaljaranja (otherweise known as Taluirina Pool). Their traditional inland extension was said to run up to Yarrie.

## Social organisation

The Ngarla had a four class system:-

Males-----Females-----Children.

* Poorungnoo marries a Parrijari producing Kiamoona.
* Banakoomarries a Kiamoona, giving birth to Parrijari
* Parrijari marries Poorungnoo producing Banakoo.
* Kiamoona marries Banakoo producing Poorungnoo.

## History of contact

White colonisation of Ngarla domains began in 1864. Over the following two years, smallpox (boola) swept through the area killing off large numbers of Ngarla. By 1886 there were said to be several hundred.

## Alternative names

* Nga:la
* Ngala, Ngerla
* Ngurla, Ngirla
* Ngala
* Gnalla
* Ngalana
* Kudjunguru (a Nyamal exonym meaning "coast dwellers")

## Some words

* yookaroo (wild dog)
* mala, maltha (father)
* wanire, wirnea (mother)
* nurloo (white man)
