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Ridley translated our 'God' by 'Baiame. He supposed that native term, which he found and did not introduce, to be a derivative from the verb BAIA, or BIAI, 'to make. Literally, however, at least in Euahlayi, the word BYAMEE means 'great one. In its sense as the name of the All Father it is not supposed to be used by women or by the uninitiated.
The verb baia or biai, to make or shape, whence Mr. Ridley derived Baiame, is not known to me in Euahlayi. Wir djuri has BAI, a footmark, and Byamee left footmarks on the rocks, but that is probably a chance coincidence. My informant said that he was instructed as to Byamee in his first Boorah, or initiation.
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