Oongnairwah, the diver, and Guinarey, the eagle hawk, organized pelicans, swans, and others to drive fish into their net. Despite warnings from Deereeree and Burreenjin about an alligator, they ignored the danger. The alligator attacked, drowning everyone and staining the creek red with blood. The site, called Goomade, remains red forever, marking the tragic event.
Source
Australian Legendary Tales
collected by Mrs. K. Langloh Parker
London & Melbourne, 1896
► Themes of the story
Loss and Renewal: The tragic loss of the fishermen is memorialized by the permanently red-stained creek, symbolizing the enduring impact of the event.
Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a cautionary message about the consequences of ignoring warnings and underestimating natural dangers.
Sacred Spaces: The site of the tragedy, Goomade, becomes a significant location marked by the blood-red creek, holding cultural and historical importance.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Aboriginal Australians
Oongnairwah, the diver, and Guinarey, the eagle hawk, told all the pelicans, black swans, cranes, and many others, that they would take their net to the creek and catch fish, if some of them would go and beat the fish down towards the net.
Gladly went the pelicans, black swans, and the rest to the creek. In they jumped, and splashed the water about to scare the fish down towards where Oongnairwah and Guinarey were stationed with their net.
► Continue reading…
Presently little Deereeree, the wagtail, and Burreenjin, the peewee, who were on the bank sitting on a stump, called out, “Look out, we saw the back of an alligator in the water.” The diver and eagle hawk called back, “Go away, then. The wind blows from you towards him. Go back or he will smell you.”
But Deereeree and Burreenjin were watching the fishing and did not heed what was said to them. 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, And red was the bank of the creek, and red the stump whereon Deereeree and Burreenjin had sat, with the blood of the slain. And the place is called Goomade and is red for ever.
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