Tindale (1974) says, 'The name as given is possibly not the original one since in languages to the south the term milipulun has the significance of "aggressive strangers"'.
Wafer and Lissarrague presume that Tindale's Milpulo is the same as Howitt's Milpulko (1904: 50, 98); they note that Hercus does not mention either, indicating doubt this is a language name (2008: 265). Follwing Hercus, Wafer and Lissarrague divide the Darling River language into two groups: Northern Darling River or Paakantyi D12, Kurnu D25, Nhaawuparlku (Nhaawarlku) D19: and Milpulo (D59); see also Southern Paakantyi D61.
The only language data attributed to Milpulo appears to be the names of totem animals in Howitt (1904:98).
Northwest of the Darling River from Wilcannia downstream, probably no farther than Tandou Lake. Little known; they presumably came in to the river during extra dry seasons; at other times depending on water from the roots of mallee and other trees in the manner of the Danggali (Tindale 1974).
... on the Darling frontage, from Wilcannia downwards (Howitt 1904:50).
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Speaker numbers were measured differently across the censuses and various other sources listed in AUSTLANG. You are encouraged to refer to the sources.
Speaker numbers for ‘NILS 2004’ and ‘2005 estimate’ come from 'Table F.3: Numbers of speakers of Australian Indigenous languages (various surveys)' in 'Appendix F NILS endangerment and absolute number results' in McConvell, Marmion and McNicol 2005, pages 198-230 (PDF, 2.5MB).
