influenced by the word "waltz", hence the introduction of dancing. It seems more likely that, as a swagman's only companion, the swag came to be personified as a female. The National Library of Australia states: Matilda is an old Teutonic female name meaning "mighty battle maid". This may have informed the use of "Matilda" as a slang term to mean a de facto wife who accompanied a wanderer. In the Australian bush a man's swag was regarded as a sleeping partner, hence his "Matilda". (Letter to Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Churchill, KG from Harry Hastings Pearce, 19 February 1958. Harry Pearce Papers, NLA Manuscript Collection, MS2765) In Germany the terms "Waltzing Matilda" have a very specific meaning: It refers to the tradition where craftsmen, after having completed their apprenticeship, spend 3 years away from their hometown, travelling on minimal budget, working in many places in order to acquire experience and master their craft. See Journeyman Years for a detailed description. In this context, (Walz) or (auf der Walz) refers to this activity. And (Mathilda) is the patron saint of the road, looking after the men (and women), helping them but sometimes dealing harsh lessons. Hence (Waltzing Matilda) would refer to the activity of a journey man traveling the road, only carrying a simple swag. swagman a man who travelled the country looking for work. The swagman's "swag" was a bed roll that bundled his belongings. billabong an oxbow lake (a cut-off river bend) found alongside a meandering river coolibah tree a kind of eucalyptus tree which grows near billabongs jumbuck a sheep billy a can for boiling water, usually 1–1.5 litres (2–3 pints) tucker bag a bag for carrying food troopers policemen squatter Australian squatters started as early farmers who raised livestock on land which they did not have the legal title to use; in many cases they later gained legal use of the land even though they did not have full possession, and became wealthy thanks to these large land holdings. The squatter's claim to the land may be as unfounded as is the swagman's claim to the jumbuck. Variations The lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" have been changed since it was written. The following version, considered to be the 'original', was published by Paterson himself in Saltbush Bill, J.P., and Other Verses in 1917, and appears as follows: Oh! there once was a swagman camped in the Billabong, Under