Dorothy Djukulul
Bula`bula Arts
Ramingining, Central Arnhem Land,
Arnhem Land region,
Northern Territory
Warrnyu
Flying foxes and Water
Ochrer on bark
“Back in the Creation time Warrnyu, the Flying Foxes once lived like men, in the cave atthe place called Kurrki Warrnyu Yirri Djaringal. They lived in the cave for many years and then one day the Dog, Djanyarr, an ancestral being in the form of a man, came alongand entered the cave. A dog was searching around for a place to live in.
A long time ago the Flying Fox lived in the cave called Wadatilmurr. From there the Flying Fox went to another cave called Gurngurrnirrngu. The Dog came along and heard the sound of a Flying Fox screaming. The Dog went down to the cliff and he pushed the rock and the water came out at the Ganalbingu place called Gurrkawakarrmurr. The Dog went into the cave and came out on the other side of the cave. So he went into the sacred hole and frightened all the Flying Fox away. When he went into the hole he left his dilly bag in the tree and went out on the other side of the sacred cave and left the spear and the woomera. He sat there for a long time.
At Kurrki Warrnyu Yirri Ngilaya Djaringal, the Flying Fox made himself into a young man ... that's what Aboriginal people do today. They make ceremonies and dancing to make the young boys into men. The songs are called Yirrarwu, Gulumu, Rruburra and Burryun. The initiation ceremonies happen today because the Warrnyu (Flying Fox) peopleperformed them a long time ago before the Yolgnu people. It was the Warrnyu peoplewho first cut the penis of the young to make them into men. It all happened at KurrkiWarrnyu Yirri Ngilaya Djaringal, this is how this place got its name.
The Dog was speaking out of the rock and made three streams and the water went insidethe cave. Two of these streams are good drinking water. In the middle it is sacredwater. No-one drinks from the middle of the stream. Children, men, women, young boysor girls are not allowed to drink from the middle of the stream. If they drink the waterfrom the middle of the stream they will get grey too early.”
