Page 1-2:
Mayalthay waluy, yothu wakir'yunalil djälthin ga waŋanany ŋayi Bäpa'mirriŋuny maranydjalkku.
It was the wet season, the child wanted to go hunting and he asked his father for stingray.
Page 3-4:
Ŋayi Bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Gäthu, djuḻkthunawuynha walu dhuwal Dhuluḏur' ga galkurra wärrkarrwu wurrkiw'nha."
His father told him, "Son, the season of Dhuluḏur' has already passed, wait for the spider lily flower."
Page 5-6:
Bala yothu marrtjin ga waŋany Märi'mumirriŋuny mäṉaw'nha.
Then the child went and asked his grandfather (paternal) for shark.
Page 7-8:
Ŋayi Märi'mumirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Marratja, djuḻkthunawuynha Rarranhdharrnydja dhuwal walu mäṉa'mirrnydja ga galkurr dharraŋgulkku wurrkiw'nha."
His grandfather told him, "Grandson, the hot dry season is the time for shark and it has already passed, wait for the red-flowering kurrajong flower."
Page 9-10:
Bala yothu marrtjin ga waŋany Ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny miyapunuw mapuw'.
Then the child went and asked his mother for turtle eggs.
Page 11-12:
Ŋayi Ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Dhuwana bala marrtjin ga Miḏawarrnydja walu." Ŋunhi nhe boŋguŋ nhäŋu rowu wurrki' ga ŋunhiyin miyapunuw mapuw' ga bawalamirriwnha ŋarirriw' ga maypalwu, ŋatha ŋamakuli'ŋumirra.
His mother told him, "The end of the wet season is coming. Later, if you see the goat's foot creeper flower, that will be the time for turtle eggs, lots of fish and shellfish, it's time for harvest."
Page 13-14:
Bala yothu marrtjin ga waŋany Yapa'mirriŋuny wäkuṉgu ŋarirriw'.
Then the child went and asked his sister for mullet.
Page 15-16:
"Yo, dhuwana bala marrtjin ga Guṉmulnha walu. Ŋunhi nhäŋun nhe boŋguŋ wäkwaknha wurrkiny'."
"Yes, the mid wet season is coming. Later you will see water lily flowers."
Page 17-18:
Bala yothu marrtjin ga waŋany Ŋathi'mirriŋuny ratjukku. Ŋathi'mirriŋuy lakaraŋal bitjarra, "Dhuwandja walu ratjukmirra ga garkuyimirra bili bärray'nha dhuwal ga wurrkiny' nhäŋu gäŋa."
Then the child went and asked his grandfather (maternal) for barramundi. Grandfather told him, "This is the time for barramundi and small mullet because it is the time of the West wind and you will see the wild passionfruit flower."
Page 19-20:
"Go, ŋali marrtjin yothu ŋarirri'lila ratjukku ga garkuyiwnha!"
"Come child, let's go for barramundi and small mullet!"
Mayaltha
Mayalthay waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', rretha ga dhalpi. Ŋathany mala gapuŋura yan. Ŋarirri', maranydjalk ga burruwuny.
In the wet season, we usually see northern milkwood and cabbage palm flowers. Food is only from the water. Fish, stingray and young shark.
Guṉmul
Guṉmulyu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', gäŋa. Ŋathany mala gapuŋura yan, ŋarirri' ga maypalnha.
In the mid wet season, we usually see wild passionfruit flower. There is only food from the sea, fish and shellfish.
Miḏawarr
Miḏawarrnydja dhuwal walu ŋatha ŋamakuli'ŋu. Bawalamirriŋura napurr ŋuli märram ga maḻŋ'maram ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur, gathul'ŋur, guḻunŋur ga gapuŋur. Nhämany napurr ŋuli wurrkiny' mala rowu, djaḻatjaḻa, ḻämbarr, yawuny ga wäkwaknha.
The end of the wet season is the time for harvesting food. You can find and collect food anywhere in the bush, mangroves, billabong and sea. We usually see the flowers of goat's foot creeper, swamp banksia, starflower, fern-leaved grevillea and waterlilies.
Dharratharra
Dharratharray waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', ḻämbarr, guŋurru' ga yawuny. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja ganguri, getkit mapu', ḻatjin', miyapunu mapu', nyoka' ga ṉamurany.
In the cool dry season, we usually see starflower, Darwin woollybutt flower and fern-leaved grevillea flowers. Food is in the bush and sea: yams, seagull eggs, mangrove worms, turtle eggs, crabs and oysters.
Rarranhdharr
Rarranhdharryu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki' dharraŋgulk, yukuwa ga ŋäṉ'ka-bakarra. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja miyapunu, guku, nyoka', yuṉuŋaḻi ga gurrumaṯtjiny.
In the hot dry season, we usually see the flowers of red flowering kurrajong, wild cow peaand Kakadu plum. Food is in the bush and in the sea: turtle, honey, crabs, black-lipped oysterand magpie geese.
Wolmay
Wolmay waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', dhaŋgi, ḻuŋiny ga munydjutj. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja. Burruwu, mäḏi ga ganguriny.
In the build-up we usually see the flowers of cocky apple, ḻuŋiny and green plum. Food is in the bush and the sea. Young sharks, crayfish and yams.
Dhuluḏur'
Dhuluḏur'yu waluy napurr ŋuli nhäma wurrki', wärrkarr ga lumbi-lumbi. Ŋathany mala ḏiltjiŋur ga gapuŋurnydja. Maranydjalk, burruwu, mäḏi ga ganguriny.
In the pre wet season we usually see the flowers of spider lily and lumbi-lumbi. Food is in the bush and the sea. Stingray, young shark, crayfish and yams.
Page 1
Nhä ŋuli ga wärrkarryu wurrkiy' maŋutji-lakaram?
What does the Swamp Lily flower tell us?
Page 3
Maranydjalkmirra walu!
It is time for stingray!
Page 5
Nhä ŋuli ga ḻämbarryu wurrkiy' maŋutji-lakaram?
What do the Starflowers tell us?
Page 7
Ṉamuramirra walu!
It is time for oysters!
Page 9
Nhä ŋuli ga yawunydhu wurrkiy' maŋutji-lakaram?
What does the Fern-leaved Grevillea flower tell us?
Page 11
Gukumirra walu!
It is time for honey!
Page 13
Nhä ŋuli ga dharraŋgulkthu wurrkiy' maŋutji-lakaram?
What does the Red Flowering Kurrajong flower tell us?
Page 15
Burruwumirra walu!
It is time for young sharks!
Page 17
Nhä ŋuli ga gaḏaykaydja wurrkiy' maŋutji-lakaram?
What does the Darwin Stringybark flower tell us?
Page 19
Miyapunumirra walu!
It is time for turtle!
Page 2
Yothuy ŋäthin ŋäṉḏiny ga bäpany, rirrikthurr ŋayi buthuru ga rathalay.
A little boy cried out to his mother and father. His ears hurt, and he had a headache.
Page 4
Bala ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny marrtjin raŋilila manhdhapiḏiwnha.
His mother walked to the beach to collect manhdhapiḏi, a type of sea slug.
Page 6
Ŋayiny yothuny ga bäpa'mirriŋuny marrtjin ḻarruŋal baḏarrwu man'tjarrwu.
Meanwhile, the little boy and his father walked off in search of baḏarr, the paperbark tree, to collect its leaves.
Page 8
Yurr dhukarrdja maṉḏa märraŋal wäkwakmirrilil. Ga ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha bala waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
The two of them took the path that passed by the wäkwakmirr, the billabong. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 11
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Burukpili dhuwandja man'tjarr, ŋalparr'wu".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of burukpili, cheese-fruit, you can use them when you have a cough".
Page 12
Bala maṉḏa marrtjinan raŋilila ga ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha bala waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
Then they walked to the raŋi, the beach. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 15
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Malwan dhuwandja man'tjarr, mäpaṉgu".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of malwan, anative hibiscus, you can use them when you have a boil".
Page 16
Yarrupnha maṉḏa raŋi-ŋupara marrtjin, bala ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha ŋayi marrtjin raŋi-ŋupar ŋorran bala ŋayi yothuydja waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
They then climbed down the sand dunes and walked along the beach. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 19
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Rowu dhuwandja man'tjarr, djetjiw".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of rowu, the goat's foot creeper, you can use them when you have a scratch or a cut".
Page 20
Dhä-ŋur beŋuryiny maṉḏa nhäŋala djurryurr'nha gapu, waṉḏin gan. Bala yan maṉḏa dhunupan marrtjinany balayin dharpalil, ŋunhi wanha gan baḏarr dharpa dhärran.
Finally, they saw a rainwater stream. It led them straight to the bush where baḏarr, the paperbark trees, stood.
Page 22
Nhäŋal maṉḏa man'tjarrdja, bala ŋayiny bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal yothuwal bitjarr gam', "Gäthu, dhuwana baḏarrdja dharpa ga man'tjarr".
They saw the leaves, and the father told the little boy, "Son, this is baḏarr, and these are its leaves".
Page 25
Bala maṉḏa marrtjin gulkthurra man'tjarrdja, bala yan roŋiyinan wäŋalila.
They picked the leaves and headed home.
Page 27
Gäman maṉḏa marrtjin baḏarrdja man'tjarr muḻkurryu wäŋalildja. Gurthany gan ŋawyurra ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuy dhaŋalkkuŋal, ga gurthaŋurdja gan nhäran manhdhapiḏi.
They carried the leaves home on their heads. While they had been away, the little boy's mother had prepared gurtha, a fire. The manhdhapiḏi were already on the fire when they arrived home.
Page 29
Bäpa'mirriŋuydja ga yothuydja dhunupan yan gapun ḏiṯthurr rupa'lila, bala dhunupan yan buŋbuŋmaraŋala baḏarrdja man'tjarr gurthalila.
The little boy and his father scooped some water into a billy and put it straight onto the fire, to boil the baḏarr leaves they had collected.
Page 30
Dhawaṯmaraŋal maṉḏa gurthaŋurdja baḏarr rupa'mirr ga manhdhapiḏi, bala ŋulwitjkuŋala. Ga bäy ŋayi-i-i-i yal'yurr banikin baḏarrmirr, bala yothunhan maṉḏa ŋäṉḏiy ga bäpay lupmaraŋala ŋuruŋiyiny baḏarryu.
The manhdhapiḏi and baḏarr were taken off the fire and left to cool. The billy full of baḏarr medicine slowly cooled down, then the mother and father washed their little boy with it.
Page 33
Dhä-ŋur beŋuryiny ḻupmaranhaŋur yothuwal, maṉḏa ŋäṉḏiy ga bäpay rarryurr weka manhdhapiḏi buthurulila yothuwal.
After the little boy's mother and father had washed him, they dripped the liquid from the manhdhapiḏi into his ear.
Page 34
Bala ŋayi yothuny ḻayyurra, bala rälin ŋayi gan waṉḏi-waṉḏinany walŋathinan rerriŋurdja. Ga yakurrtja walalaŋ latjuny dhika bunan.
The little boy felt better, his earache and headache were starting to go away. The family all had a good rest that night.
Page 36
Ga wiripun walu djaḏaw'yurr, ŋayi yothuny gan buḻ'yurra bawalamirrikurra, bili walal warrpam'nha nhinanany gan ŋayaŋu-djulŋithinan.
The next morning, the little boy played excitedly, and the whole family felt happy again.
Mapuḏumun
Red Cement tree (Terminalia Carpentaria)
Muthir'
Sandpaper Fig Tree (Ficus Opposita)
Wuḏuku
Drift wood (Camptostemen Schultzi)
Ŋathi gan ŋorran gäthur waluŋur.
Ga ŋama' marrtjin ŋaraliw'bala ŋathiwal, bala ŋayi bumar ŋarali',
bala marrtjin wäŋaŋur, bala räkaylil.
Ga ŋayi räkay bumar ŋamay',
bala ŋayi marrtjin räli wäŋalil, ŋathiw räkay marrtjin gäŋal.
Wäwa marrtjin bala wäŋalil. Ŋayi bathi ŋamaw' gäŋal.
Ŋama' marrtjin gäŋaw.
Ŋayi bumar gäŋa bathilil,
bala ŋayi gäŋal ŋathiw raŋilil.
Ŋurruŋuny nhuma balaŋ marrtji ga ŋunhi nhuma ŋuli retjany nhäŋu, bala nhuma ŋuli gärrin, bala marrtji nhäŋun djitamawnha man’tjarrwu. Ga balanya ŋayi djitamany man'tjarr gam', yindi ga ḻiḻpam.
First of all, you should go and see the bush. Then you go into the bush and start looking for the leaves of yam. The leaf of the yam is big and flat.
Yaw'yurrnydja nhuma ŋuli djitamany ga yan bili ga maḻŋ'maraŋ, nhuma ŋuli ŋatha djitama. Balanya ŋayi ŋathany rumbal. Buŋu nhuma ŋuli marrtji dhaŋaŋ, bala nhuma ŋuli wäŋan riwarran maḻŋ'maraŋ, bala nhuma ŋuli guṉḏirrnha nhanapul.
Dig for the yams until you can easily find the food. The yam looks like this, it’s round and short. Dig as many as you can, then you can find a place to cook. You should always collect termite mound and put it on top of the fire.
Beŋurnydja nhuma ŋuli marrtji guḻunlila ga raŋan gulkthurr ga ṉorrutj wapmaraŋ manapul balayi raŋanlil. Dhuwandja ṉorrutj ga mulmu raŋanŋur.
After that you have to go to the billabong to strip some paperbark and grass and collect them together. This stem and grass go together with the paperbark.
Marrtji nhuma ŋuli bala ṉorrutjtja guṉḏirrlila ŋapalil rarr'yurr, bala djitamany marrtji guṉḏirrlila rulwaŋdhurr. Beŋuryiny raŋanthun marrtji dhaḻ'maraŋ djitamany, bala gapuynha yurr'yurr ga bulu dhaḻ'maraŋ raŋanthu. Bala munathaynha dholkuŋ, bala nhinin gi ŋir'yunmirra.
You can place the leaves on the termite mound on top, then put the yams on as well. Next, pick up the paperbark and place it around the yams, pour a little bit of water and close it again with the paperbark. Then cover it up with some sand, and sit and breath after all that hard work.
Dhuwandja meṉḏuŋ, dhiyaŋ ŋuli djitamany ralkthun.
Nhini walal märr wiyin' bala nhuma ŋuli warrkthurra djitamany bala raŋanlila rarr'yurr.
This is a snail; with this snail we scrape the yam and it looks like hot chips. Sit and wait a lot longer, then collect the yams and place them onto the paper bark.
Bala marrtji ŋäṉarrmaraŋun djitamany bala nhuma ŋuli ralkthurra marrtji ŋunhi djitamany.
Ralkthunaŋurnydja dhurrwaraŋur nhuma ŋuli gärruŋlila galkurr marrtji djitamany mala, bala riyalalila nhuma ŋuli gäŋu bala ḻupmaraŋun.
Next, peel off the skin from the yams, then you may scrape all the yams using the snail. After scraping the yams put them inside a mesh bag. Carry it straight to the stream and soak it.
Bala nhuma ŋuli ganarrthula waŋgany munha balayi gapulil, märr ŋayi ŋuli gapuynydja ŋunhi djitamany marin djalkthun. Ŋorri nhuma ŋuli djaḏaw'. Bala nhuma ŋuli marrtjin balayin riyalalila bala dhawaṯmaraŋun ŋunhi djitamany. Munha waŋganymirr ŋayi dhuwal ŋathany.
Leave it there for one night in the water, so that the water can get rid of the poison from the yams. You can sleep and go back at dawn. Then you may go back to the stream and collect the yams. This food is only for one night.
Dhäkaynydja ŋayi dhuwal djitamany manymak, ga rerrimiriw ŋayi dhuwal ŋathany. Baman'tja dhiyaŋ ŋathay ŋaḻapaḻmirrnydja walal limurruŋ gan nhina.
The taste of this yam is really good, and in this food, there is no sickness. A long time ago our old people were living with this food.
Dharpay Mala
Dharpany dhuwal walŋa, ga dharpaynydja ŋuli gurrupan limurruŋ dhäwu ga mayali' ŋunhi limurr ŋuli dhäkay-ŋäma limurruŋgal ŋayaŋu. Nhäkurr ga wanha witjan limurr dhu dhukarrkurr marrtji ga märram ŋatha manymakmirr wäŋa, gapuŋur ga diltjiŋur.
Dharpa dhuwal Dhuwa ga Yirrtja dhäwumirr. Ŋorrany ŋayi ga dharpaŋurnydja mala riŋgitj, manikay, bäpurru ga buŋgul. Wiripuny mala dharpa munhawuynha bäpurru.
Dhuwa ga Yirritja dharpa mala wiripuny wurrki'mirr, borummirr ga ŋathamirr. Man'tjarr ŋuli bäki mirritjin rumbalwu ga dharpa rumbalnydja ŋuli bäki näku djämaw.
Gurrkurr guninyin ŋuli bäki miny'tjiw, djäma ŋuli gunga miny'tjimirriyam.
Trees
Trees are alive and give us stories and feelings. When the tide is out it is time to make fish traps from the trees that have been prepared.
Trees are Yirritja and Dhuwa and tell many different stories. They have ceremonial connections to the land with songs and songlines but some have been forgotten
Trees and everything they represent are very important to Yolŋu. Associated with one tree are many names and meanings. This is the same for flowers which also signal to Yolŋu directions of the wind.
Trees can be used for their resources such as leaves, bark to make string for bags and canoes. The flowers on trees show the season and what sea and land food is ripe and ready to collect. Leaves on trees can also be used for medicine and flowers show the direction of the wind.
Trees connect Yolŋu to the land.
Gawatjark
gawatjarktja - Borum ŋuli ŋuthan bawalamirrikurr ga miny'tjiny nhanŋu miku'. Ga borumdja ŋayi dhuwal mirithirr nyumukuṉiny' balanya nhakun munydjutj.
Gawatjark is bush fruit it grows anywhere. The colour of the fruit is red, it's a small fruit it's like a green plum. The scientific name for this fruit is Drypetes Lasiogyna.
Gumbu
gumbuny - Dhuwal borum yurr nyumukuṉiny' ga ŋuthandja ŋuli marrtji dhirrimuk. Ga dharpany nhanŋu ŋuli ŋuthan dhirrimuk ga wiripuny gaḏawaḏa. Malŋ'maraŋuny limurr ŋuli borum gumbuny baralakurr ga gumurr-retja. Ga dhäkaynydja nhanŋu mirithirr latju dhika.
Gumbu are small little white fruits it grows along the open flood plains and rain forests. It tastes good. The scientific name for this fruit is Securinoga Virosa.
Munydjutj
munydjutj - Ŋuli marrtji borumdhirr rarranhdharryu, yurr ḻuku-nhäranhamirriy. Ŋunhi ŋuli nhuma nyaŋ'thurr ḏikuny munydjutj, nhuma ŋuli mathany baṉḏanydhin. Ḻukiny nhuma ŋuli borum yan. Munydjutjŋur dharpaŋur ŋayi ŋuli ga ŋuthandja, yurr garrwar.
Munydjutj ripens at rarranhdharr when the ground is hot to walk on. If you eat the fruit when it's still not ripe, your tongue gets dry, the fruit grows high in the branches. The scientific name for this fruit is Buchanania Obvata.
Dhaŋgi
dhaŋginy - Dhuwal dhuḏi-wiyin' borum. Ga ŋapany nhanŋu mulkuminy ga ŋathany nhanŋu djinagany buthalak. Dhäkaynydja nhanŋu manymak ga wiripuny yaka.
Dhaŋgi is a fruit and it is green, but inside the fruit is yellow. We can eat the fruit and sometimes we don't. The scientific name for this fruit is Planchonia Careya.
Genydja
genydjany - Borum nhuma ŋuli maḻŋ'maraŋ baralakurr yurr galki retjaŋur. Dharapany nhanŋu mirithirr yindi ga borumdja nhanŋu balanya nhakun munydjutj, yurr märr yindin. Ga ḻukiny nhuma ŋuli maŋutji manapul, bili ŋunhi maŋutji genydjany mirithirr buḻŋu' ga nyumukuṉiny'.
Genydja is a fruit you find along the sand dunes and the rain forests. The tree is very big and the fruit is the size of a king marble, you eat the fruit and the seeds, it tastes good. The scientific name for this fruit is Ficus Virens.
Rripipi
rripipiny - Borum dhuwal nyaŋ'thunamirr yurr yaka nhanŋu dhäkaynydja manymak, ŋany gäŋga. Ŋuthandja ŋayi marrtji ŋuli bawalamirrikurr.
Rripipi this fruit is good to eat and it grows everywhere. The scientific name for this fruit is Ficus Platypoda.
Djäpa
djäpany - Dharpany mirithirr yindi, ga ŋuthandja ŋuli ga djinaga retjaŋur yan. Ga borumdja nhanŋu mirithirr nyumukuṉiny' nhakun gumbu. Dhäkaynydja nhanŋu latju mirrithirr. Ga miny'tjiny nhanŋu mol.
Djäpa grows in the bush, the fruit itself is small. It tastes sweet and the colour of this fruit is black.
Ṉarraṉi'
ṉarraṉiṉy' - Borum dhuwal miku' miny'tji ga gorrumany ŋuli ga garrwar dharpaŋur yäkuŋur ṉarraṉi'ŋur. Ga dhakalnydja nhanŋu nhakun wapuḻ, ga dhäkaynydja nhanŋu rapiny ga wiripuny ḏamurruŋ. Ŋuthandja ŋuli marrtji gumurr-retja, djinaga retjakurr ga wiripuny bam'palakurr.
Ṉarraṉi' grows in the rain forest and along the sad dunes or open plains, the fruit is red and it's size is like a tennis ball or sometimes much bigger. It tastes sweet and sometimes sour. The scientific name for this fruit is Suborbicularis or Eugenia Suborbicularis.
Waŋganymirriy waluy yothu yäku Ḏatam dhawal-guyaŋin Wäkwakkuŋ.
One day a baby waterlily called Ḏatam was born to Wäkwak.
Beŋurnydja ŋayi Wäkwaktja marrtjin bala bumara räkaynha. Bumar ŋayi…i…i, dhaŋaŋ.
Soon after, Wäkwak went to collect water chestnuts, She got lots and lots of them.
Roŋiyinan ŋayi Wäkwaktja, nhäŋal ŋayi Ḏatamdja gan gaḻ'-kaḻyurra, bala ŋayi waŋanan marrtjin bitjarra gam', “Ŋamala, Ŋamala, Ŋamala!”
When she came back, she saw Ḏatam crawling around calling, “Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!”
“Way! Waku marrkapmirr, dhuwal ŋarra nhunany ŋapa-raŋanmirr ganarrthaŋal,” bitjarr ŋayi waŋan Wäkwaktja.
“Hey! My dear daughter, you were just a baby when I left you a little while ago,” said Wäkwak.
“Ŋamala, barrarirr gurrupar ŋarrany Djaykuŋ'thu, bala ŋarra nhuŋun ŋäthinany.”
“Ga…a..a, yothuthu marrkapmirr! Wanha dhika ŋayi Djaykuŋ'tja? Ŋarra ŋanya yaŋara' birrirri'yun."
“Mummy, Djaykuŋ the File Snake was scaring me, so I cried out for you”. “Oh come here my darling baby! Where is Mr Djaykuŋ the File Snake? I’d like to twist his tail!”.
Ŋaḻindi…i...i ga ŋaḻindi..i..i ga ŋaḻindi ŋupan maṉḏa nhinanany, ŋayi Ḏatamdja wirrkuḻdhirra ŋuthan.
Months passed and Ḏatam grew to be the most beautiful flower in the billabong.
Waŋganymirriy waluy ŋayi ḏirramu nhanŋu djälthin, yäku Gulwaṉi. Ŋayiny nhanŋu Ḏatamdja nyarrmaḻŋ'thuna.
One day Gulwaṉi the bullrush fell in love with Ḏatam. She fell in love with him too.
Yaka wiyin'tja, bala maṉḏa märranhamirra, ga yothuny maṉḏaŋ ḻurrkun'! Märrma' miyalk, ga waŋgany ḏirramu.
Before long, they got married and had three children, two girls and a boy.
Waŋganymirr, ŋayi waluny ḏälnha dhika dhärran, ga gorrmur'thinan gapuny.
One day the sun shone very fiercely and the water in the billabong became very hot.
Bala maṉḏaŋ djamarrkuḻiny' raku-rakunydhinan. Ŋayi Ḏatamdja ŋäthin..a..a wiyin'nha dhika, bala milkarriny djuḻ'yurra walalaŋgala djamarrkuḻi'wal.
All Ḏatam and Gulwaṉi’s children died. Ḏatam cried for a long time.
Walalnydja bulu walŋa-walŋathinan. Maṉḏany Ḏatamdja ga Gulwaṉi mirithinan goŋmirriyinan.
When the tears fell on the bodies of the children, they all came back to life again. This made Ḏatam and Gulwaṉi very happy.
Dhuwandja dhäwu gungapuy, wanhal nhe dhu gunga maḻŋ'maram ga miny'tji mala gungaw. Dhuwal mala miny'tjiny gungawnydja gam':
Guṉinyi
yellow - buthalak
Yiriŋaniŋ'
red - miku
Watharr buyu
white - watharr
This story is about where you find pandanus and dyes for making baskets.
These are the colours for pandanus:
Guṉinyi - Yellow (Great Morinda, Morinda Citrifola)
Yiriŋaniŋ - Red (Red Stemmed Lily, Haemodorum Brevicaulo)
Watharr - White or Natural