The point here in question concerns a waterless stretch of country, which [had] to be traversed by night because of the cooler conditions [then prevailing]. Since campsites are usually located on the top of sand[hills] and offer a commanding view for keeping close watch, fires are visible from these elevations up to long distances away. Furthermore, since one can pretty well anticipate when visitors may be coming in the near future and from which direction they will arrive, and, what is more, since any local waterless stretches are well known, a [distress] fire signal is only too readily understood. A responding fire conveys the reply: 'yes, water will be on the way soon'.
By this term is meant any place where a fire has been kindled at some time or another in order to bake or cook something, or where coals are lying about and the ground is blackened. According to whatever is cooked there from time to time, any fireplace is given a corresponding name.
If it was cold [when] the 'natives' were travelling at night, they waved firesticks in front of their stomachs to keep themselves warm. At this some 'white' people often became suspicious, [thinking] that this waving of firesticks was the signal for an attack. On the north side of Lake Kunki [the Coongie Lakes?] it once transpired that a band of 'natives' approached [a 'white' camp] with flaming torches. Several stockmen who were camped in the neighbourhood, believing they were under attack, shot down several of the 'natives'.
After payment for chewing-tobacco has been forwarded in advance, the men are [now] bringing it at last. [Already] at a great distance they light a fire, so that a huge column of smoke ascends. turukudna naniwa dunkajila, tana matja kapangai, ngaiana paru ngankingananto, mauarli tana tajina wirinanto smoke-column she is ascending, they already are announcing themselves; we fish want to (must) get ready hungry they to eat want to (must) come in by means of the ascending smoke-column they are announcing their arrival; let us prepare some fish, for they [will be] hungry and must eat when they come into [camp]
When men (people) are on a journey or when they are out hunting during the summer and have run out of water, they make a fire to signal that someone should bring them water, naka turuta japiji wariwarina tertieli, ngapa mandranimai kana kaljura ngankala, tana wolja paliati yonder fire is kindled to become exhausted from thirst, water carry men satisfied to make, they soon otherwise [will] perish they have kindled a fire over there, for they are parched with thirst; carry some water out to assuage the mens' [thirst], otherwise they could perish
In the first place, two men go out to see where the emus are located. They follow their tracks from a waterhole, where they come in to drink at night. This time the emus are driven away from water, so that they knock up in the heat. A look-out Reuther (rather awkwardly): "Augen Haber", respectively, "Augeninnhaber". is maintained from the camp. As soon as the two men have found the emus and the day starts getting hot, they make a fire. Now the chase begins. On the next hill they light another fire. Men in the camp now know in which direction the emus are being driven. Two other men [then] go out to relieve the first ones, and so on. Constantly kept on the run, the emus soon become exhausted in the heat and thus fall an [easy] prey to their pursuers.
Of these there are many. However, it cannot be claimed that [a form of] fire-language, as it were, had to exist with [the use of] firesticks at night. Fire signifies a number of different things. In the daytime it indicates: that water is wanted during an emu drive, that a death is imminent, that for some reason or another help is needed, that somebody is approaching, that the people are to assemble, etc., according to circumstances [obtaining], which are not always CHECK to those in camp. Fire signals at night indicate: that one has lost his direction, that one is announcing his approach, that one is kindly disposed, that water has been found, that one has set up camp here or there, in which direction help is being awaited. den desiring to give a secret fire-signal, a spear is lit, held up high, and let to fall again like a torch. [The casual observer] probably believes it to have been a shooting star and pays no more attention to it. The initiated person, on the other hand, knows what it signifies.
When a delirious person wanders off at night - not a seldom occurrence - people go searching for him in all directions. Whoever finds him kindles a fire. The others, realising what this signifies, [then] abandon the search.