Mulgali

Abstract

Mulgali or mulkali is a common noun in Ngarrindjeri language, not a place-name. According to most sources, it and its variants mean ‘red ochre’. The Ngarrindjeri Elder Albert Karlowan may have used Mulgali as a generic place-name in his Yaraldi dialect, applying it to Ochre Cove south of Moana; but this is doubtful and is most likely a misunderstanding by ethnologist Ronald Berndt. A genuine place-name would always have a suffix, e.g. the Locative as in Mulgal-angk.