Djanggawul by Ronald M. Berndt

Author:Ronald M. Berndt [Berndt, Ronald M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Anthropology, General
ISBN: 9781136538575
Google: ojJUAQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2013-10-11T04:51:44+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The Djanggawul Song Cycle

Part Five

The Djanggawul continue their journey along the coast of the mainland, about Arnhem Bay.

Song 71

W

E have come to the river crossing, waridj. Where shall we cross, there to the other side? 1

Go, make yet another well at Wagulwagul: putting the mauwulan point in, Bildjiwuraroiju, so that water comes gushing forth!

Dragging the stick through the mud, putting it into the ground!

We walk along fast, using the stick; and here we see a whale!

What is that, waridj, blocking us? A whale! 5

Yes, a whale is blocking us! Indeed, oh the bulk of its body … !

What can we do? The whale is right in the mud before us:

That whale with its huge ribs, its tail flipper …

Indeed, waridj Miralaidj, its bulky body is ours, as it lies high and dry in the mud.

Oh, Wagulwagul Whale, covered up within it—the ngainmara! The Uterus! 10

Water is rising up from the mud, mixing with spray from the whale: waves clashing together, water stirred up by the whale … !

Foam coming up! Well water rising and roaring, flowing about the whale: by its rib bones, the transverse fibre of the mat, into its mouth!

Water rises, flowing into the mouth of the whale, the gaping mouth of the whale:

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