Australian Legendary Tales — Chronicle

Tale 1 · Dinewan The Emu, And Goomblegubbon The Bustard · At length

Dinewan (Tale 1) Dinewan's mate

At length they decided on the sacrifice of their wings. The Dinewan mother showed the example by persuading her mate to cut off hers with a combo or stone tomahawk, and then she did the same to his.

Tale 1 · Dinewan The Emu, And Goomblegubbon The Bustard · straightway

Goomblegubbon (Tale 1)

She determined she would not be outdone. Rather would she kill all her young ones but two. She said, "The Dinewans shall not be the king birds of the plains. The Goomblegubbons shall replace them. They shall grow as big as the Dinewans, and shall keep their wings and fly, which now the Dinewans cannot do." And straightway Goomblegubbon killed all her young ones but two.

Tale 2 · The Galah, And Oolah The Lizard

Galah [[Oolah the lizard (Tale 2)]]

she rushed at Oolah, seized him with her beak, rolled him on the bush until every bindeah had made a hole in his skin.

Tale 2 · The Galah, And Oolah The Lizard · to this day

[[Oolah the lizard (Tale 2)]] Galah

So to this day, underneath the Galah's crest you can always find the bald patch which the bubberah of Oolah first made.

Tale 3 · Bahloo The Moon And The Daens

the death adder (Tale 3) the black snake (Tale 3) the tiger snake (Tale 3)

He carried them over.

Tale 4 · The Origin Of The Narran Lake · 📍 [[Coorigel Spring]]

Birrahgnooloo Cunnunbeillee the first kurreah (Tale 4) the second kurreah (Tale 4)

Scarcely were they enjoying the cool rest the water gave their hot, tired limbs, when they were seized and swallowed by two kurreahs.

Tale 4 · The Origin Of The Narran Lake · 📍 [[Narran]]

Byamee (Tale 4) the first kurreah (Tale 4) the second kurreah (Tale 4)

Thinking they might again escape him, Byamee drove them from the water with his spears, and then, at close quarters, he killed them with his woggarahs.

Tale 4 · The Origin Of The Narran Lake · 📍 [[Boogira]] · from henceforth

Byamee (Tale 4)

when the Narran runs it will run into this hole, and by the spreading of its waters will a big lake be made.

Tale 5 · Gooloo The Magpie, And The Wahroogah · 📍 [[a hollow tree]] · When the women had gone

Gooloo the children (Tale 5)

When the women had gone, Gooloo gathered the children round her and fed them with durrie, hot from the coals. Honey, too, she gave them, and bumbles which she had buried to ripen. When they had eaten, she hurried them off to her real home, built in a hollow tree, a little distance away from where she had been cooking her durrie. Into her house she hurriedly thrust them, followed quickly herself, and made all secure.

Tale 5 · Gooloo The Magpie, And The Wahroogah · 📍 [[the bush]]

the men (Tale 5) the children (Tale 5)

The men hunted the bush round for miles, but found no trace of the lost Wahroogahs, though they too heard at times a noise as of children's voices wailing.

Tale 6 · The Weeoonibeens And The Piggiebillah · 📍 [[Piggiebillah's camp]]

Piggiebillah the elder Weeoombeen brother (Tale 6) the younger Weeoombeen brother (Tale 6)

Just what I want for my supper, he said, and so saying, dragged it away to his own camp. The Weeoombeens followed him and even helped him to make a fire to cook the emu, hoping by so doing to get a share given to them. But Piggiebillah would not give them any; he said he must have it all for himself.

Tale 6 · The Weeoonibeens And The Piggiebillah · 📍 [[Piggiebillah's camp]]

Piggiebillah

As the spears fell thick on him, sticking out all over him, Piggiebillah cried aloud: "Bingehlah, Bingeblah. You can have it, you can have it." But the black fellows did not desist until Piggiebillah was too wounded even to cry out;

Tale 7 · Bootoolgah The Crane And Goonur The Kangaroo Rat, The Fire Makers · One day

Bootoolgah Goonur (Tale 7)

And hearing wisdom in her words, even as she said Bootoolgah did. And lo! after much rubbing, from the opening came a small flame. For as Goonur had said it would, the spark lit the grass, the bark smouldered and smoked, and so Bootoolgah the crane, and Goonur the kangaroo rat, discovered the art of fire making.

Tale 7 · Bootoolgah The Crane And Goonur The Kangaroo Rat, The Fire Makers · 📍 [[Bingahwingul scrub]] · after the next fish were caught

Boolooral [[Quarrian (Tale 7)]] Bootoolgah Goonur (Tale 7)

They saw Bootoolgah and Goonur throw down their load of fish, open their comebee and take from it a stick, which stick, when they had blown upon it, they laid in the midst of a heap of leaves and twigs, and at once from this heap they saw a flame leap, which flame the fire makers fed with bigger sticks.

Tale 7 · Bootoolgah The Crane And Goonur The Kangaroo Rat, The Fire Makers · As he ran

Beeargah Bootoolgah

As he ran he fired the grass with the stick he still held.

Tale 8 · Weedah The Mocking Bird · 📍 [[Weedah's camp]]

Weedah Beeargah (Tale 8)

Even as you served Beeargah the hawk, my cousin, and my friends, so now serve I you.

Tale 8 · Weedah The Mocking Bird

Weedah

And as it burst, out from his remains had risen a bird, Weedah, the mocking bird; which bird to this day has a hole at the back of his head, just in the same place as Weedah the black fellow's head had burst, and whence the bird came forth.

Tale 9 · The Gwineeboos The Redbreasts

Goomai little Gwineeboo (Tale 9)

Goomai was so angry with little Gwineeboo for keeping on asking for kangaroo, and thereby making the young men suspicious, that she hit him so hard on the mouth to keep him quiet, that the blood came, and trickled down his breast, staining it red.

Tale 9 · The Gwineeboos The Redbreasts

Gwineeboo Goomai little Gwineeboo (Tale 9)

They built a big dardurr for themselves, shutting themselves and the little boy up in it. Then they began singing a song which was to invoke a storm to destroy their enemies

Tale 9 · The Gwineeboos The Redbreasts · 📍 [[the sky]]

Quarrian (Tale 9) Gidgereegah

First they were changed into birds and afterwards into stars in the sky, where they now are, Gidgereegah and Ouarrian with the kangaroo between them, still bearing the names that they bore on the earth.

Tale 10 · Meamei The Seven Sisters · that night

Wurrunnah [[the seven Meamei (Tale 10)]]

They gave him food and allowed him to camp there that night.

Tale 10 · Meamei The Seven Sisters

Wurrunnah the two Meamei taken by Wurrunnah (Tale 10) the five Meamei left behind (Tale 10)

When they reached the tops of the pines the five sisters in the sky stretched forth their hands, and drew them in to live with them there in the sky for ever.

Tale 11 · The Cookooburrahs And The Goolahgool · One day

Googarh Moodai (Tale 11) Cookooburrah (mother) the two little Cookooburrahs (Tale 11)

One day, Googarh, the iguana, and his two wives went out hunting, leaving the two little Cookooburrahs at the camp.

Tale 11 · The Cookooburrahs And The Goolahgool

Cookooburrah (big brother) the two little Cookooburrahs (Tale 11)

He went towards the tree, climbed up it, and split it right down. As he did so, out gushed the water in a swiftly running stream.

Tale 12 · The Mayamah · 📍 [[the camp]] · one night

the old dog (Tale 12) Gooeeays

Then spoke the old dog, saying only: "Gone to the borah." And as he spoke every one of the Gooeeays and everything they had with them was turned to stone.

Tale 14 · Oongnairwah And Guinarey · 📍 [[the creek]] · Soon

the alligator (Tale 14) Oongnairwah Guinarey [[Deereeree (Tale 14)]] Burreenjin

Soon the alligator smelt them, and he lashed out with his tail, splashing the water so high, and lashing so furiously, that all the fishermen were drowned, even Deereeree and Burreenjin on the bank--not one escaped

Tale 15 · Narahdarn The Bat · 📍 [[gunnyanny tree]]

Narahdarn the first wife (Tale 15)

This he did before she had time to realise what he was going to do, and protest. So great was the shock to her that she died instantly.

Tale 15 · Narahdarn The Bat

the first little sister (Tale 15) the second little sister (Tale 15) the mother of the Bilbers (Tale 15)

They ran and told their mother that Narahdarn had returned alone, that he looked fierce and angry, also his arms were covered with blood.

Tale 15 · Narahdarn The Bat · 📍 [[the camp]]

the chief of the Bilber tribe (Tale 15) the first wife (Tale 15) the second wife (Tale 15)

Then forth went the fleetest footed and the keenest eyed of the young men of the tribe. Ere long, back they came to the camp with the news of the fate of the Bilbers.

Tale 16 · Mullyangah The Morning Star · 📍 [[yaraan tree]] · During the day

Bibbee (first young climber) Murrawondah

When they were safely inside, they hastened to secrete a smouldering stick in one end of the humpy, taking care they were not seen by any of the women.

Tale 16 · Mullyangah The Morning Star · 📍 [[the sky]]

Mullyan (Tale 16)

but their legend says that Mullyan the eagle hawk lives in the sky as Mullyangah the morning star

Tale 17 · Goomblegubbon, Beeargah, And Ouyan · 📍 [[the river]]

Beeargah (Tale 17) Ouyan (Tale 17) the two children of Beeargah (Tale 17)

The black fellows said they wanted wives, and would each take one, and both care for the children. The women agreed.

Tale 18 · Mooregoo The Mopoke, And Bahloo The Moon · One night

[[Mooregoo (Tale 18)]] Bahloo

One night Babloo the moon came to his camp, and said: "Lend me one of your opossum rugs." "No. I lend not my rugs." "Then give me one." "No. I give not my rugs." Looking round, Bahloo saw the beautifully carved weapons, so he said, "Then give me, Mooregoo, some of your weapons." "No, I give, never, what I have made, to another."

Tale 18 · Mooregoo The Mopoke, And Bahloo The Moon

[[Mooregoo (Tale 18)]]

And it rained without ceasing until the whole country was flooded. Mooregoo was drowned.

Tale 19 · Ouyan The Curlew · one day

Ouyan (Tale 19)

He made a cut in his leg with his comebo and as he made it, cried aloud: "Yuckay! Yuckay," in pain. But he cut on, saying: "Sharper would cut the tongues of the women, and deeper would be the wounds they would make, if I returned without food for them." And crying: "Yuckay, yuckay," at each stroke of his comebo, he at length cut off a piece of flesh, and started towards the camp with it.

Tale 19 · Ouyan The Curlew

Beeargah (Tale 19) Ouyan (Tale 19)

The three women seized poor Ouyan and beat him, though he cried aloud in agony when the blows fell on his bleeding legs.

Tale 20 · Dinewan The Emu, And Wahn The Crows

Dinewan (Tale 20) the watching wife (Tale 20) the other wife (Tale 20)

The one who was watching saw Dinewan laugh to himself and go and knock down the bark they had just put up, chuckling at the thought of his wives having to go out in the wet and cold to put it up, while he had his supper dry and comfortably inside. The one who saw him told the other, and they decided to teach him a lesson.

Tale 21 · Goolahwilleel The Topknot Pigeons · Every day

Goolahwilleel

Every day, instead of hunting, Goolahwilleel had been gathering wattle-gum, and with this he had been modelling a kangaroo--a perfect model of one, tail, ears, and all complete.

Tale 21 · Goolahwilleel The Topknot Pigeons

Goolahwilleel the mother (Tale 21)

But his mother and sisters did not smile. They seized him and gave him a good beating for deceiving them. They told him he should never go out alone again, for he only played instead of hunting, though he knew they starved for meat.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · One day

Goonur (the son) Guddah Beereeun

One day the two wives had done something to anger Goonur, their husband, and he gave them both a great beating.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · 📍 [[the creek]]

Goonur (the son) Guddah Beereeun

Too late then to save himself, for he was drowning and could not escape.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · 📍 [[the camp]] · for some time

Goonur (the mother) Goonur (the son)

And thus they managed for some time to keep his return a secret; and little the wives knew that their husband was alive and in his mother's camp.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · 📍 [[the creek]] · In a few days

Goonur (the son) Guddah Beereeun

Having cut and pointed sharply two stakes, he stuck them firmly in the creek, then he placed two logs on the bank, in front of the sticks, which were underneath the water, and invisible.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · 📍 [[the creek]]

Goonur (the mother) Guddah Beereeun

She had not long to wait; soon they began to move and come to life again.

Tale 22 · Goonur, The Woman-Doctor · when the Mother Doctor died

Goonur (the mother)

And when the Mother Doctor died there was a beautiful, dazzlingly bright falling star, followed by a sound as of a sharp clap of thunder

Tale 23 · Deereeree The Wagtail, And The Rainbow · At last

Bibbee (Tale 23) Deereeree (Tale 23)

At last Bibbee said! "If you are so frightened, marry me and live in my camp. I will take care of you." But Deereeree said she did not want to marry.

Tale 23 · Deereeree The Wagtail, And The Rainbow

Bibbee (Tale 23) Deereeree (Tale 23)

So by working on her mixed feelings of fear of his prowess, and admiration of his skill, Bibbee gained his desire, and Deereeree married him.

Tale 23 · Deereeree The Wagtail, And The Rainbow · long afterwards

Bibbee (Tale 23)

And Bibbee was changed into the woodpecker, or climbing tree bird, who is always running up trees as if he wanted to be building other ways to the than the famous roadway of his Euloowirree, the building of which had won him his wife.

Tale 24 · Mooregoo The Mopoke, And Mooninguggahgul The Mosquito Bird · 📍 [[the sky]]

the old man (Tale 24) the two sons (Tale 24) the two sons (Tale 24)

And there they still are, near the Milky Way, and known as Wurrawilberoo. The boomerangs are scattered all along the Milky Way, for the whirlwind had gathered them all together in its rush through space.

Tale 24 · Mooregoo The Mopoke, And Mooninguggahgul The Mosquito Bird · 📍 [[the camp]] · The next day

the first wife (Tale 24) the second wife (Tale 24) the old man (Tale 24)

As he did so, she signed to the other woman, who quickly came, gave her some of the melted gum, which they both then poured hot into his eyes, filling them with it.

Tale 24 · Mooregoo The Mopoke, And Mooninguggahgul The Mosquito Bird

the old man (Tale 24)

But though they never saw their husband, they saw a night hawk, the Mopoke, and as that cried always, "Mooregoo, moregoo," as their husband had cried in his agony, they knew that he must have turned into the bird.

Tale 25 · Bougoodoogahdah The Rain Bird

Bougoodoogahdah the four hundred dingoes (Tale 25)

Quickly they came and surrounded the black fellows, took them by surprise, flew at them, bit and worried them to death. Then they and Bougoodoogahdah dragged the bodies to their camp.

Tale 25 · Bougoodoogahdah The Rain Bird

the people who attacked Bougoodoogahdah (Tale 25) Bougoodoogahdah the four hundred dingoes (Tale 25)

out rushed over two hundred black fellows, and so effectual was their attack that every dog was killed, as well as Bougoodoogahdah and her two little dogs.

Tale 25 · Bougoodoogahdah The Rain Bird · 📍 [[the Moorillahs]]

the four hundred dingoes (Tale 25) the two little dogs (Tale 25)

As the little bird flew from the heart of the woman, all the dead dingoes were changed into snakes, many different kinds, all poisonous. The two little dogs were changed into dayall minyah, a very small kind of carpet snake, non-poisonous

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee · From this day forth

Byamee (Tale 26)

They could but bark and howl; the powers of speech and laughter had they lost.

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee

the chief of the Ooboon (Tale 26)

stretching the chief of the Ooboon a corpse on the ground at his feet.

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee · as she felt the water cool her parched lips

Millindooloonubbah

Then back she fell, dead.

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee · 📍 [[Googoorewon]] · as she fell

Millindooloonubbah

The tribes in the background were changed each according to the name they were known by, into that bird or beast of the same name.

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee · While they travelled to Noondoo

Byamee (Tale 26) the old dog (Tale 26)

Hurrying along with them, a dog of Byamee's, which would fain have lain by the roadside rather than have travelled so swiftly, but Byamee would not leave her and hurried her on.

Tale 26 · The Borah Of Byamee · 📍 [[Noondoo]]

Byamee (Tale 26)

And Byamee, the mighty Wirreenun, lives for ever. But no man must look upon his face, lest surely will he die.

Tale 27 · Bunnyyarl The Flies And Wurrunnunnah The Bees

Wurrunnunnah Bunnyyarl

never more went back to live with the Bunnyyarls, for they were tired of doing all the work.

Tale 27 · Bunnyyarl The Flies And Wurrunnunnah The Bees · As time went on

Bunnyyarl

and the lazy Bunnyyarls were changed into flies.

Tale 28 · Deegeenboyah The Soldier-Bird · When they were quite out of sight

Deegeenboyah

When they were quite out of sight Deegeenboyah jumped up quickly, took up the emus and made for an opening in the ground at a little distance.

Tale 28 · Deegeenboyah The Soldier-Bird

[[Mullyangah (Tale 28)]] the two daughters of Deegeenboyah (Tale 28)

Come on; I am strong." And he smiled quite kindly up at the child, who, hesitating no longer, jumped towards his arms, only to meet her sister's fate.

Tale 28 · Deegeenboyah The Soldier-Bird

[[Mullyangah (Tale 28)]] Deegeenboyah

Not so," said Mullyangah, "no man lives to steal twice from a Mullyan;" and, so saying, he speared Deegeenboyah where he stood.

Tale 29 · Mayrah, The Wind That Blows The Winter Away

Yhi Mayrah

then Yhi the sun chases her back whence she came, and the flowers droop and the birds sing only in the early morning.

Tale 30 · Wayarnbeh The Turtle · 📍 [[the creek]]

Wayambeh

Wayambeh, the black fellow, they never saw again, but in the waterhole wherein he had dived they saw a strange creature, which bore on its back a fixed structure like a boreen, and which, when they went to try and catch it, drew in its head and limbs, so they said, "It is Wayambeh." And this was the beginning of Wayambeh, or turtle, in the creeks.

Tale 31 · Wirreenun The Rainmaker · At the end of the third day

Wirreenun

At the end of the third day Wirreenun said to the young men: "Go you, take your comeboos and cut bark sufficient to make dardurr for all the tribe."

Tale 31 · Wirreenun The Rainmaker · for some days

Wirreenun

then the rain in real earnest began, and settled down to a steady downpour, which lasted for some days.

Tale 31 · Wirreenun The Rainmaker · 📍 [[the Googoorewon]] · the first time

Wirreenun

And the first time they drew their nets, they were heavy with goodoo, murree, tucki, and bunmillah.