This story has been translated into Djambarrpuyŋu from
Mirriway' ga Bäruy gana ḏuttji'yurruna published by the Literature Production Centre - Milingimbi School in Gupapuyŋu © 1983
Page 1:
Maṉḏa marrtjin waṉḏin yolŋu märrma', Mirriwa' ga Bäru. Waṉḏin maṉḏa
marrtjin, dhut maṉḏa nhinan; "Way, ŋali gurtha dhiyal ḏuttji'yun, ŋe?",
bitjarr ŋayi waŋan Bäru. Ga wäŋan ŋunhi yäku Gurthamayaŋwaŋan.
"Ŋali dhu dhiyal ḏuttji'yun", bitjarr ŋayi nhanŋu yoraŋal Mirriwa'.
There were two people travelling, Mirriwa' and Bäru. The two of them walked and stopped to sit “Hey, we should make a fire here, yes?”, said Bäru.
The place there is called Gurthamayaŋwaŋan.
“We should make a fire here”, Mirriwa’ replied in agreement.
Page 3
Bala maṉḏa gan ḏuttji'yurra, ga ŋayiny nhanŋu waŋan bitjarr, "Nheny ḏuttji'yurr, ŋe?". Bitjarr ŋayi waŋan Mirriwa', "Ŋarrany ŋunha dhu man'pili buma, boy'-puyyunaraw; märr ga ŋayi dhu nhära ŋuruŋiyi man'piliy".
"Yow'. Gatjuy litjalaŋ.", bitjarr ŋayi Bäruny waŋan.
And so the two went to make a fire, and Bäru said to him, “You make the fire, yes?”.
Mirriwa’ said “I will collect soft bark from over there, to blow on, so that the soft bark catches fire.”
“Yes, off you go for us.” said Bäru.
Page 5
Bala ŋayi ŋunhi marrtjinan Mirriwany' man'pilinha. Bal', pal', pal', pal' ŋayi; ga baṯ ŋayi ŋayathaŋal dharpa gaḏayka. Ga bili ŋayi gan ŋunhi yirrparnha ŋunhi dharpany man'piliwnha; yirrpara, yirrpara, yirrpara, ga burdji-burdjimaraŋal.
Bala ŋayi marrtjin gäŋalnha ŋayi ŋunhi man'piliny nhanukal. Gäŋal ŋayi marrtjin ŋunhi man'piliny, ga gurray gurrupar nhanukal Bäruwal, ŋayiny märraŋal ŋunhi man'piliny, bala maṉḏa gan ḏuttji'yurra. Yan bili, ga nhäran maṉḏaŋguŋ.
And so, Mirriwa’, walked off to get soft bark. Pat, pat, pat, pat, he reached and held the wood of the stringybark tree. And then he scraped the soft bark from that tree, scrape, scrape, scrape, and rubbed the bark together.
And so he walked off, carrying the soft bark with him. He walked with the soft bark, and threw it down to Bäru, he took that soft bark, then they went to make a fire. The two of them would work until they got the fire going.
Page 7
"Ŋay' dhuwana, boy'yurra litjalaŋ", bitjarr ŋayi Mirriwa' Bäruw, ga ŋayiny bitjarr Bäruny,
"Yaka. Nhe litjalaŋ boy'-puyyurr".
"Manymak", bitjarr Mirriwa'; bala ŋayi boy'-puyyurr ŋunhi gurthany maṉḏaŋ. Boy', puy', puy', bala baṯnha ŋurrkaŋal. Bala nhäranan ŋunhi gurthany, ŋala'-ŋalapthurra.
“Here, you take it, blow on it and spark it for us.”, Mirriwa’ said to Bäru, and Bäru said,
“No. You blow on it for us.”
“Fine,” said Mirriwa’, and then he began to blow on the embers so that they could have a fire. Woosh, woosh, woosh, fanning the flames into a fire. And then there was a fire, the flames flared and burned brightly.
Page 9
Bala maṉḏa ŋunhi ŋunhiliyiny djambi warrakan'thinan. Nhakun bäruthinan, ga mirriwa'thinan.
Ga manymak, ga ŋayi nhanŋu waŋan bitjarr Bäru, "Mak bala ŋathil ḏawa'yurr, ŋunhi nhä nhäŋu dhärra ga". Ga ŋayi gan bitjarr bala ḏawa'yurr, bala ŋayi Bäruynydja djaw'yurra ŋunhi gurthany, gapulila ŋayi ḻupthurra. Ga bitjarr bala ŋayi ḏawa'yurr ŋunhi Mirriwany', ga nhäŋal Bärunydja bäyŋuny.
And then the two of them changed and became animals then and there, just like, the crocodile and the frill-necked lizard.
All was well, Crocodile said to him, “Maybe, take a look behind you, look what is standing over there”. Then he looked over his shoulder, and Crocodile snatched the fire, and submerged himself into the water. He did this while Frill-necked lizard was looking over his shoulder, and did not see Crocodile disappear.
Page 11
"Ye---e, gurtha ŋarraku ŋunha djaw'yurr Bäruy", bitjarr ŋayi Mirriwa' waŋan. Bala ŋayi waṉḏinan, bal', pal', pal', ŋunhal; ga ŋal'yurra ŋayi dharpaŋur, ga yan bäyŋu. Waṉḏin ŋayi waŋgany'ŋulilnydja muka, ga bal', pal', pal', ŋunhal; ŋal'yurr ŋayi ga yan bäyŋu. Ga bulu bal', pal', pal', pal', ga ŋal'yurr ŋayi, ga bäyŋu.
“Arghh, Crocodile, that’s my fire you stole.” Frill-necked lizard cried out. He ran, pat, pat, pat, and not too far away, he climbed up into a tree but saw nothing. He ran to another tree, pat, pat, pat and climbed it but saw nothing. He ran to one more, pat, pat, pat, climbed it but never saw any sign of Crocodile.
Page 13
Ga ŋayiny ŋunhi Bäruny waŋan bitjarr, "Dhuwal gurtha ŋarra djaw'yurr, dhuwal ŋarraku; yalala ŋarra dhu ga mulka nhina dhiyaŋ gurthay." Ga wäŋany ŋunhi yäku Gurthamayaŋwaŋan.
Then Crocodile said, “This is the fire I stole, this is mine, later I will use the fire to keep me warm.” This place has the name Gurthamayaŋwaŋan.
GURRUḺANGALAŊUWUY DHÄWU
Dhuwandja dhäwu baman'puy ŋurruṉaŋgalpuy, ŋunhi Gurruḻan gan nhinan dhiyal wäŋaŋur. Nhinan ŋayi, bala ŋayi marrtjinan, ga märraŋalnha dharpa biḻparr, bala djarrktjarrk-thurrnha ŋunhiyi biḻparrny't ja. Ga bulu ŋayi ḏuwaṯthurr bala djaḻumbuw, bala ŋayi gulkthurra ŋuriŋi Gurruḻandhu djaḻumbuny, bala ŋayi batharnha.
Ga ŋayiny marrtjin beŋur Buṉḏawiliŋur Gämuny. Bala ŋayiny nhäŋalnha ŋanya Gurruḻandhuny, bala ŋayi ŋurrkaŋalnha biḻparrny'tja, bala ŋunhi wäŋany dhuwal yindithinan guḻundja.
Ga ŋäthilnydja gan dhuwal wäŋa dhärran bäyŋu guḻun, ga bäyŋu gapu ganha yindi bäninya; nyumukuṉiny yän dhärran maŋutji, yurr Gurruḻan-guŋ. Ga ŋunhi ŋayi ŋurrkaŋalnydja biḻparrny'tja bala marrtjinan ganarrthamha ŋunhi dhuwal wäŋany. Yurr rrambaŋi maṉḏa ŋunhi marrtjinany; ŋayiny Gämuny garrwarkurr ga ŋayiny Gurruḻandja munathakurr marrtjinan. Bala ŋayiny gan ŋunhi marrtjinany Dhalmurralilnha, ŋayiny gan ŋunhi ŋäthil nhinan Girkirwa. Ga ŋayiny Gämuny marrtjin balan Burrum'lilnha.
Bilin dhuwal dhäwuny Gurruḻangalaŋuwuy baman'puy dhawar'yurra.
GURINIWUY DHÄWU
Guriniy djaw'yurr miyalk Gudhurruny, bala ŋayi Gurininy marrtjinan ḏakawaw'nha. Ga walalnydja gan nhinan Gudhurruwnydja bäpa’mirriŋu ga ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu, ŋuriki miyalkkuny bäpa'mirriŋu ga ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu. Bala ŋayiny marrtjinan bumarnha Guriniynydja ḏakawany, bala ŋayi gurthan baṯthurr ŋuriki ḏakawaw bathanaraw, bala ŋayi batharnha gan ḏakawany. Ga beŋuruyiny ŋayi marrtjinan, bala ŋayi bunanan walalaŋ bäpa’mirriŋuw ga ŋäṉḏi’mirriŋuw, bala ŋayi ḻakaraŋalnha walalaŋ ḏakawany. Ga ŋayiny maḻamarryuny yapa’mirriŋuy Gudhurruy yänguŋal yukuyuku'mirriŋuny nhanŋuwuy ŋayi. Ga Gurininy waŋan bitjarr, "Yaka, ŋayipi dhu marrtji yapa'mirriŋu nhuŋu," bitjarr. Bala ŋayipin marrtjin maḻamarrnha yapa'mirriŋu ŋuriki yutjuwaḻaw yapa'mirriŋuw. Ga ŋayiny Gurininy ŋoy-ŋamathinan, bala ŋayi gurrupar wiṉ'kuŋuy nhanŋu ḏakawany, ga dhunupa'ŋuynydja ŋayi waṉan ŋanya ŋayathaŋal. Bala ŋayi djaw'yurrnha
Ŋanya märramban Gurininynydja dhiyal.
Ga dhawar'yurrnha Guriniwuy dhäwu.
DHUWANDJA DHÄWU MOKUYPUY DHARPUNHAWUY
Waŋganymirr yolŋu gan marrtjin baman' birr. Marrtjinany ŋayi ŋunhi, bala ŋayi wäyinnha bumar ŋuriŋi yolŋuy. Bala ŋayi gurthan baṯthurr wäyingu, bala ŋayi batharnha wäyindja nhanŋuwuy ŋayi, yurr walu gärrinyaray. Bala ŋayi ḻukanan ŋunhi wäyindja. Ḻukanany ŋayi gan, bala ŋayi ŋal’yurra dharpalilnha. Ŋunhiliny ŋayi gan ŋorranany makaṉbiŋurnha garrwar dharpaŋur munhawuny. Bala ŋayi ŋäkul, ŋayi marrtjin dirrŋgu dirrŋgu. Bitjarr waŋan ŋayi marrtjin ŋunhiny mokuynydja bitjarr gam', "Yolthu ŋarraku wäŋany gungaŋal? Yolthu ŋarraku wäŋany gungaŋal?" ga bitjarr ŋayi marrtjin waŋanany ŋunhiyiny mokuynydja. Bala ŋayi ŋunhi yolŋuny ŋamathanhaminan garrwarnydja. Bala ŋayi garan märraŋal ŋuriŋiny yolŋuy, bala ŋayi yarrarra’maraŋal. Ga ŋayiny marrtjin ŋal'yurra ŋunhi mokuynydja, guwatjmar ŋanya marrtjin bala garrwarlil. Bala ŋayiny ŋunhi yolŋuynydja
ŋanya dharpuŋalnha, bala ŋayi rakunydhinan ŋunhi mokuynydja.
Bilin dhuwal dhäwuny.
MURAYANAWALAŊUWUY DHUWANDJA DHÄWU
Murayanany gan nhinan; ŋayi gan yiḏaki djäma manymak. Ŋunhi ŋayi gan djämany, bala ŋayi ḏopthurra ŋoy birrka'yurr. Yän yätjkurr warray, bala ŋayi buthuru-bitjurrnha yän, walal ŋunhal ḏopthurr, bala ŋayi Murayanaynydja ŋäkulnha Wubulkarrawuŋun. Ŋunhi ŋayi ŋäkulnydja bala ŋayi marrtjinan rirrakay ŋuparnha, bala ŋayi waṉḏinan. Ga gandarrŋurnydja ŋayi dhärran buthuru-bitjurr; yän ŋayi ŋäkulnha ŋamathaŋalnha, bala ŋayi djuḏupthurrnha marrtjin walalaŋgal. Ŋunhi ŋayi nhäŋalnydja yiḏakiny, bala ŋayi yiŋarra'yurrnha. Bala yarrupthurr ŋayi wäŋalilnha, guwatjmarnha walalany. Bala ŋayiny nhäŋalnha walalany, bala Wubulkarrany mala nhanŋu märr-ŋamathinan mirithinan, ga ŋayi märr-ŋamathindhi walalaŋ bitjarrdhi bili. Ga Wubulkarrany waŋan Murayanaw bitjarr, "Nhaku nhe ga marrtjiny, gutharra?"
Ga Murayanany waŋan bitjarr, "Yän ŋarra ga marrtji märiwal. Mak limurr giritjirrnha märiwal buŋgulnha." Bala walal giritjinan buŋgulnha, ga ŋayiny Murayanany waŋganymirr giritjin walalaŋgal. Bala ŋayi waṉḏinan walalaŋgalaŋuŋur märr barrkuwal. Ga walal nhanŋu ḏopthurr, bala ŋayiny waṉḏin bala warraw'lilnha. Ga bulu nhanŋu walal ḏopthurr, bala ŋayiny märraŋalnha yiḏakiny, bala djaw'yurrnha, bala walal warguguyurrnha mirithinan. Wubulkarrany mala.
Bala ŋayiny Murayanany waṉḏinan roŋiyinan rälin Mandjalilnha. Waṉḏinany ŋayi, bala gandarrŋurnydja ŋayi ḏopthurra, walalnydja nhanŋu yiŋgathinan. Beŋur ŋayi roŋiyinany, bala ŋayi ḏopthurr bulu, bala walalnydja ŋäkul nhanukalnydja yolŋuy, bala yiŋgathinan nhanŋu. Ga waŋganymirrnha walal giritjinany, bala ŋayiny Murayanany marrtjin balan
Guḻkuḻalilnha. Ga marrtjinany ŋayi, ga gandarrŋur ŋayi ḏopthurr, bala waṉḏinan. Ga ŋunhi ŋayi waṉḏinany, ga gandarrŋurnydja ŋayi gukuw dhupuŋal, yurr bäyŋu. Bala ŋayi waṉḏinan, bala wäŋan nhäŋal. Ga ŋunhayin ŋayi ga nhinany, ga Guḻkuḻan wäŋaŋurnha nhanukiyingal. Dhiyalnydja ga dhäwu dhawar’yunna Murayanaw. Ga ŋathany walal ŋunhi djalkthurrnha yukuwany, yurr dhuyu ŋunhi ŋathany.
Ŋäthil baman' walal marrtjin wakir'lil, bäpa'mirriŋu djeṯ ga ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu djeṯ ga momu'mirriŋu djeṯ ga yothu ḏirramu djeṯ.
Maṉḏany ŋunhi momu'mirriŋuny ga ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny gärrin retjalila ganguriwnha. Ga maṉḏany yothuny ga bäpa'mirrŋuny gan nhinan raŋiŋur, ṉakuw maṉḏa gan djäga.
Bala ŋayiny ŋunhi ḏirramuynydja märraŋal garan ga maŋal'nha, bala yarrupthurra ŋarirriw'nha, ga dharpuŋalnydja ŋayi ŋunhi ḻurrkun' ŋarirriny'.
Bala ŋayi roŋiyinan ŋunhi ḏirramuny bala wäŋalila, bala waŋgapunuŋala ŋunhi ŋarirriny' ŋurrŋgitjlila. Yaka weyin bala ŋayi warrkthurra ŋunhi ŋarirriny'. Bala ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuynydja ŋäŋ'thurra ŋanya ŋarirriwnha. "Gäthu ŋarranhany gurrupula ŋarirri' go." Bitjarr.
Bala ŋayi gäthu'mirriŋuny waŋan bitjarra, "Yow, dhuwandja barrpany ŋarirri' gurrupanmirr yan". Bala ŋayi nyaŋ'thurra dhawar'maraŋala, ga bäyŋun gurrupar bäpa'mirriŋunhany. Ga ŋayiny bäpa'mirriŋuny bitjarra waŋan nhanŋu, "Yow, gäthu ḻiyalil ŋarra nhuna galkarnydja dhuwal yalalaŋuw". Bitjarr.
Ga ŋayiny muka bäpa'mirriŋuny yarrupthurr ŋarirriw, yurr ṉakuynha ŋayi marrtjinany.
Yaka weyindja ŋayi galkurr, bala nhäŋal bäpa'mirriŋunhany ŋayi marrtjin roŋiyinan. Ga ŋunhi ŋayi dhawaṯthurrnydja bala ŋayi gurthan baṯthurr, bala ŋarirriny' batha'bathara ŋurrŋgitjlila.
Ŋunhi ŋayi warrkthurrnydja ŋarirriny' bäpa'mirriŋuynydja, bala ŋayiny ŋäŋ'thurra gäthu'mirriŋuny. "Bäpa ŋarrakuny gurrupula ŋarirri' go." Ga ŋayiny bitjarra waŋan bäpa'mirriŋuny, "Bäyŋun ŋarra nhuna dhu gurrupan gäthu". Bitjarr.
Bala ŋayi yothuny ŋäthinan, yurr weyinnha ŋayi ŋunhi ŋäthinany, bala ŋayi marrtjin bulka'mirriyinan. Bala ŋayi ŋunhi yothuny bilyurra warrakan'thinan, bala ŋayi buṯthurra.
Ga dhiyaŋuny bala limurr ŋuli nhäma warrakan'nha buṯthunnawuynha ga yäkuny ŋunhi warrakan'tja djeṯnha.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Long time ago there lived a family of four, there was a father djeṯ, and a mother djeṯ and a grandma djeṯ and a young little boy.
One day they went out camping to the beach.
As they got there, the grandmother and the mother went out hunting for yams. While the father and the boy stayed behind. They were looking after the canoe.
Then the little boy decided to go fishing. He got his spear and his spear thrower and went out. He caught three fishes.
He went back to the camp, and he cooked the fish in the fire, soon the fish were cooked. The father asked the boy, if he could have some, "Son, can you give me some of the fish?"
The son said, "I can't give you this fish it's rotten". And he ate it all up. He didn't give any to his father. Then the father said to his son, "Son, you didn't give me any fish, when I go fishing later in the day, I won't give you any".
Then the father went out fishing on a canoe.
Not long the father came back from fishing, then the boy said, "Here comes father with some fish". When the father came ashore, he lit up the fire and cooked the fish.
When the fish was cooked, he got them out of the fire, and then the boy asked him for some, "Father can you give me some please?" But the father said, "I'm not going to give you any".
Then the little boy started to cry. He cried and cried for a long time, soon feathers started to grow on his body.
Then the boy changed into an eagle, and he started to fly up into the air.
Now, today you can see the eagle flying around.
First published in 1984 as the chapters 'Food, Cooking and Fire', 'Artifacts - For Camp Use', 'Land and Sky' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC. Additional entries compiled into Chapters from Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' by Andie Clements
Prepared by J. Galpagalpa, D. Wanymuli, M. Wilkinson and L. de Veer. Compiled by Emma Smolenaers, Andie Clements, Fred Munyirinyir, Classroom Assistant Teachers and Learning on Country Staff.
Illustrations by Jo-Anne Thorne, Margaret Muṯuwili, Andie Clements and Emma Smolenaers.
Waŋganymirr waluy maṉḏa gan nhinan, Wäk ga Wurrpaṉ. Ga märranhaminany maṉḏa, bala maṉḏa gan nhinanany ṉäkuŋura wäŋaŋurnydja. Yurr ŋayi ŋunhi Wurrpantja ḏuṉṯuŋ.
Bala waŋganydhuny waluy ŋayi marrtjin dharyurra, bala ŋayiny ŋunhi ḏuŋtuŋtja Wurrpaṉ mirithinan galŋa-djulŋithin, bala ŋayi marrtjin balnhdhurr’yurra ŋunhi wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy.
Ga bitjarra bili ŋayi gan wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy balnhdhurr’yurra yan, bala ŋayiny Wäktja waŋan nhanŋu bitjarra, " Way nhaku nhe ga dhuwal litjalaŋ wäŋany balnhdhurr’yun ŋayi dhu dhuwal ḏaw’yunna."
Ga ŋayiny gan Wäktja nhinan djinawa wäŋaŋur. Bala ŋayi gapun nhäŋal, ŋayi marrtjin gärrin wäŋalil.
Bala beŋuryiny ŋayi Wäktja märr-maypathinan, bala ŋayi waŋanan Wurrpaṉ’gala bitjarra gam, "Ma, nhepi yan dhu djämany dhuwali, dhiyaŋ bala bondi yan."
Ŋayiny Wurrpaṉdhuny baḏak gan balnhdhurr’yurr maṉḏaŋguwuy wäŋany, bäyŋun ŋayi dhulina-bitjurr Wäkkuny gurrupuruŋuwnydja.
Ga bulu ŋayi Wäk waŋan bitjarr, "Way ḏuŋtuŋ Wurrpaṉ, nhaku nhe ga dhuwal baḏaktja balnhdhurr’yun dhuwal wäŋany litjalaŋ? Muka balanya nhuŋu ŋayaŋuny, bäyŋu nhe ŋuli ga buthuru-bitjun ŋarraku, ma nhinin gi dhiyala galkurra ŋarraku."
Bala ŋayi Wäktja buṯthurra.
Yaka weyin bala ŋayi roŋiyinan Wäktja yurr goŋ guḻayŋumirra, ŋayiny Wurrpaṉdhuny gan baḏaknha balnhdhurr’yurr ŋunhi wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy.
Bala ŋayi Wäkthuny ŋurrkaŋala ŋunhi gurthany nhanukal Wurrpaṉgalnydja gumurrlila, bala ŋayi nhäranan Wurrpaṉtja, ga ŋayiny Wäktja buṯthurra winya’yurra nhanukal.
Ga dhiyaŋuny bala ŋayi ga baḏak gorrum nhanukal bakparrnydja gumurrŋurnydja, ŋunhi ŋäthil Wäkthu ŋanya bathar baman birr.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
One time, Crow and Lazy Emu were married and lived together in a bark house.
One day it rained and Lazy Emu was so happy he started to kick the house.
Lazy Emu kept kicking the house and Crow said,
" What are you kicking for, you’ll break it !
Crow was inside the house when she saw water falling from the roof.
After that Crow was very upset and she said to Lazy Emu,
"You’ll have to fix it up right now."
Lazy Emu kept kicking the house with his foot and he didn’t take any notice of Crow, poor thing.
Crow shouted loudly and she said,
"Lazy Emu, why are you kicking the house all the time? So that’s what you’re like, you don’t listen, you just wait here for me."
And Crow flew away.
Then she came back with a fire stick for Lazy Emu but he kept pushing the house down.
Crow threw the fire stick into Lazy Emu’s chest and he was burnt and Crow left quickly and flew far away.
And today Lazy Emu has a burn mark on his chest from Crow…..
Page 1:
Dhuwandja dhäwu ḏuttji'wuy. Ŋunhi ŋuli ŋanapurruŋ gurthany bäyŋuthirr, bala napurr ŋuli ḏuttjin' djäma. Dharrwa dharpa mala ḏuttjiny' dhuwal.
This story is about making fire with firesticks. We do this when there is no fire or matches. There are many trees suitable for making firesticks.
Page 2:
Waŋganydja muka dharpa ḏuttji', ga wiripuny malwan.
Napurrnydja dhu lakaram waŋgany dharpa malwanbuy.
One tree is called ḏuttji' (Premna Obtusifolia), and the other is malwan (Native Hibiscus). The one we have used here is Native Hibiscus.
Page 4:
Ŋurruŋuny napurr ŋuli marrtji mayaŋgurr wo bam'palakurr, bala yurrnha nhäma dharpa malwandja.
Beŋuryiny ḏaw'maram goŋdhuny, bala yikiynha djäma wiriny'tjuna buyuwuyukuman. Dharpany dhuwal märrma', ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu ga yothu. Ga dhuwandja ŋayi ga djäma yothu, ŋunhi ŋuli napurr ḏuttji'yun dhiyaŋ dharpay.
First, we look around a creek or coastal sand dune until we see a yellow hibiscus tree. We break off straight dead sticks by hand, and then scrape them with a knife to make them smooth. We use two sticks to make fire – a child stick and a mother stick. (This is because when the sticks are being used, they are likened to a baby sucking from the breast of the mother). Here the man (Andrew Galitju) is shaving the child stick smooth with a knife, because this is the stick that is twirled by rubbing between the hands.
Page 6:
Dhuwandja wuŋiḻi', ŋayi ga nhirrpan nyumukuṉiny' yothu, ga dhiyaŋun ŋuli wiripunhany nhäranhamaram.
In this photo he is driving a smaller sharpened stick into the child stick. This sharpened piece is broken off leaving its point inside the end of the child stick which is in contact with the mother stick during fire making, and from which the heat is derived.
Page 8:
Ŋurruŋuny ŋayi ga dhuwal wiriny'tjun ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny, waŋgany gali' yan.
The mother stick is then shaved flat, but only on one side.
Page 10:
Bala dhulu'wilaman yikiynha yothuwnha nhirrpanharaw.
Then the mother firestick is hollowed out with a knife so that the end of the child firestick will fit into it.
Page 12:
Mitthuna ga dhuwandja ŋarŋgany märr ŋayi dhu yalalany yupthun guḻa' gurtha man'pililila.
A little hole is cut at the side so that the smouldering sawdust will be able to fall out and collect on some bark.
Page 14:
Dhuwandja ŋayi ga yarrar'maram ḏäl man'pili, bala ŋayi dhu yalŋgikuman märr ŋayi dhu rulwaŋdhun guḻa ḏuttji'yunawuy gurtha, märr ŋayi dhu bondin nhärany.
Here he is stripping off some outer bark from a stringybark tree. He will soften this and break it up by rubbing it between his hands. Later he will place in it the smouldering product of his firesticks, whereupon the stringybark will act like tinder and catch alight.
Page 16:
Ga dhuwana ŋayi yalŋgikunhawuynydja man'pili. Wiripuny dhu märram räwak mulmu märr dhu bitjan bili nhära bondi.
Here is the softened stringybark. Alternatively dry grass can be used in the same way.
Page 18:
Dhuwandja ŋayi ḏuttji'yun yothuy dharpay, ga ḻukuynydja ŋayi ga dhurrparam ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny dharpany.
Here he is twirling the child firestick, whilst firmly holding the mother firestick in place with his feet (sometimes a few grains of sand are put inside the hollow of the mother firestick to help).
Page 20:
Ḏuttji'yun ŋäthil ŋuli ŋurruŋuny ga bäy ŋuli ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu gorrmur'yirra bala guḻany' ŋuli larryun man'pililila bala nhäran.
The firesticks are worked together until the mother firestick gets hot and an amount of smouldering ash falls out and collects on a strip of bark.
Page 22:
Nhäranhawuynydja ŋuli rulwaŋdhun yalŋgilila man'pililila mam'maram gurtha.
This smouldering pile is carefully placed in the ball of softened bark.
Page 24:
Bala boy'yuna gaŋga yan. Ga wataynha guŋga'yun mirithirrnydja. Ga beŋuryiny ŋuli ŋäṉarrnha djäma yindin gurtha.
Then he blows into it, only softly. Wind can also do the trick, (by holding up the ball of bark to the breeze or waving it slowly). In this way a flame grows and the bark catches alight.
Page 26:
Bala beŋuryiny rulwaŋdhun yindilil gurthalil.
Bala yurrnha ŋuli batha'-bathandja ŋarirriny', maypalnydja wo wäyindja mala dhiyaŋ ḏuttji'wuyyu gurthay.
This is then used to light a big fire on which we can cook fish, shellfish or meat.
(This translation is based on the Djambarrpuyŋu text but includes some extra notes in italics from observation of the process itself)
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.
Page 2
Yolŋu walal barpuru marrtji raŋilil maypalwu.
Yesterday they went to the beach for shellfish.
Page 4
Marrtji walal barpuru, bala walal barpuru nhina raŋiŋur.
They went yesterday, then they sat at the beach.
Page 6
Buma walal barpuru gurtha, bala walal barpuru marrtji maypallil.
They collected firewood yesterday, then they went for shellfish.
Page 8
Buma walal marrtji barpuru maypal dharrwa. Bala walal barpuru maypal gäma raŋilil.
They went and collected lots of shellfish yesterday. They carried them to the beach.
Page 10
Djäma walal barpuru gurtha, bala walal barpuru bathan maypal gurthalil.
They made a fire yesterday, then they cooked the shellfish on the fire.
Page 12
Galkun walal barpuru maypalwu, bala walal barpuru nyaŋ'thun.
They waited for the shellfish yesterday, then they ate them.
Page 14
Bala walal barpuru marrtji wäŋalil.
Then they went home yesterday.
The articles from this booklet were prepared and provided by the senior girls at Shepherdson College in my English class. They also provided the sketch design.
The typing was done by Helen Rrikawuku. The layout was done by David Gelma and Paul Biyarranydjarrawuy, under the guidance of the Literature Production Manager, Mr Michel Lapointe. The cover was designed by Paul Biyarranydjarrawuy (c) 1980.
Pam Stephenson, our Teacher Linguist, corrected the Yolŋu I gratefully thank all those who participated in the production of this manual.
Acknowledgement is given to the Aboriginal Arts Board for their contribution to this publication.
The 2021 digitisation and reprint has been completed by Margaret Muṯuwili.
Original Story and illustrations by Duṉḏiwuy Wunuŋmurra
© Literacy Resource Development Unit - Yirrkala
Currently no translation available for this text.
Page 5
Dhuwandja walu Wirrpaŋu.
This is the time of the build-up.
Ga maŋandja marrtji mana-manapanmirra ga waṉbana. Ga waluny maranydjalkmirra.
The clouds are getting bigger and getting ready for thunder and rain. This is the time that stingray are being born.
Page 6
Dhiyaŋ watharryu wurrkiy' ŋuli mel lakaram maranydjalkmirra walu, ga yäkuny dhuwal wurrkiny' wärrkarr.
This White flower tells us that stingray hunting season is coming. This flower's name is the Swamp lily.
Ŋamaŋamayunmirra djämaw garawnha: djäma gara.
Getting ready: making the spears
Napurr ŋuli maḻŋ'maram garany retjaŋura guḻunmirriŋura wäŋaŋur. Ga yäkuny dhuwal waḏawaḏa ga man'tjarrnydja nhanŋu yindi, bilkpilk ga ḏoṯurrkthinya.
We find spears in the rain forest near the swamp. This spear tree is called Waḏawaḏa. Its leaf is flat on the bottom and looks like a heart.
Page 7
Ŋunhi nhuma ga ḻarrum garaw, ga maḻŋ'maraŋ dhunupa ga wiyin'.
When looking for a spear, find one that is nice and straight.
Ga gulkthurra ŋoytja ga bukukurr ŋanya garany.
Cut the bottom and the top.
Gäŋun balan wäŋalila.
Take it back to camp.
Page 8
Djäma gurtha rulwaŋdhurra gurthalila bala bathula yurr bilma'pilmaraŋ garany.
Make a fire. Put the spear on the fire and burn the bark, evenly.
Bala märraŋun garany bala dharpalila rulwaŋdhurr bala dhunu-dhunupayaŋun.
Take the spear out of the fire and put it between a forked tree, then start to straighten the spear.
Page 9
Beŋuryiny ŋaṉarrmaraŋun barrwaṉdja bala ganarrthula walulila.
Next, take the bark off the spear. Leave it in the sun to dry.
Page 10
Märraŋ ḻurrkun' djimuku ga djiŋdjiŋ. Ga djiŋdjiŋ dhu garrwi'yurr dhuḏi gara. Beŋuryiny djäma nyumukuṉiny' gurthan ga rulwaŋdhurr dhuḏi djimuku bala gurthalil. Märraŋ djimuku beŋur gurthaŋur waŋga'-waŋgany gorrmur' märraŋ bala djuḏupmaraŋun dhuḏilil garalila.
Get three steel prongs and some copper wire. Use the copper wire to tie up the end of the spear. Make a small fire and put the ends of the prongs in the heat. Get the prongs off the heat and one by one push the heated end into the spear.
Page 11
Ga ŋunhi warrpamnha dhu djimuku ḻirra gärri garalila, rarryurr gapun guyŋarrkuŋun garanhany. Yapmaraŋun djiŋdjiŋdja beŋur djimukuŋurnydja. Ga garrwi'yurra ḏälkuŋ ḻirrany djiŋdjiŋdhu balayi garalil yurr mirithi garrwi'yurr. Ga bulu wutthu'-wutthurr ga bäy ŋayi dhu ḏälthirr mirithirr. Bala ŋurruny ŋanya garany djinbulkuŋun.
When all the prongs are in the spear, pour water on to cool them. Take the copper wire off and round off the edges of the spear shaft tip. Wind the copper wire back onto the spear very tight. Hit the prongs back into the spear until they are in hard. Sharpen the tips of the prongs.
Page 12
Gulkthurr djomula wo dharraŋgulk ga djäma biḏitj gutjparr'yunarawnha garaw.
Cut a branch of the Casuarina Tree (whistling tree) or Stringy Bark to make a spear thrower.
Page 13
Nhe dhu nhämany maranydjalktja märr baṉḏanyŋur. Dharpuŋuny muḻkurr maranydjalknhany dhuḏiŋur. Bili walalaŋ djukurr'nydja djinawa walalaŋgal yaka dharpuŋ djukurr'nydja!
You find stingrays in the shallow water. When you see a stingray, spear it in the head. Their liver is in their back. Avoid spearing them in the liver.
Page 14
Ŋunhi nhe dhu dharpumany gäŋun baṉḏanylila. Wutthurrnydja muḻkurr märr ŋayi dhu yakan djagadjagayun. Ŋayathul nhokal ḻirray yaŋara' maranydjalk. Ga nhokal biḏitjthu ḏimirr yapmaraŋ. Ga burrpurrmaraŋ ḏimirrnydja munhathalil djinawalila.
When you spear it take it to the edge of the water. Hit it on the head so it stops moving. Grab the tip of its tail and hold it in your teeth. Use your spear thrower to get the barb off the tail. Push the barb safely into the sand.
Page 15
Ga nhäŋu dhurrwara ŋunhi buthalak miny'tji ŋunhiyiny djukurr'mirra.
Check the stingray's mouth. If the lips are yellow, then the liver is fat.
Page 16
Gäŋu ga märraŋ wiyin' raki' märr nhe dhu rulwaŋdhun maranydjalk. Djuḏupmaraŋ raki' melkurr ga dhawaṯmaraŋ dhurrwarakurr. Baḏak yan buŋuny bäy nhe dhu dhaŋaŋgum. Bala wäŋalila gäŋu.
Carry a metre of string to tie up the stingray. Put the string through its eye and out through its mouth. Keep hunting until you are happy with your catch. Then take them home.
Page 17
Ŋunhi nhe dhu wäŋany ŋayatham, wiripuŋunydja dhu yolŋuy gurtha djäma ŋäthilmirriyam. Bala gapun rarryun rupa'lila.
When you get home, someone will get the fire ready. Fill a pot with water.
Bala yapmaraŋun rakiny' maranydjalkŋurnydja.
Get all the stingrays off the string.
Page 18
Mitthurra ga märraŋun djukurr'nydja beŋur maranydjalkŋurnydja.
Cut all the livers out of the stingrays.
Bala märraŋun mulkuminydja miny'tji beŋur djukurr'ŋurnydja.
Remove the mulkuminy (the green poison in the liver).
Bala djukurr'nydja rulwaŋdhurr rupa'lila.
Put all the livers into a bowl.
Page 19
Rulwaŋdhurra maranydjalktja rupa'lil bala gurthalila ga bäy ŋayi dhu ga nhära buḻŋuyirr ŋanak.
Put the stingrays into the pot. Boil them on the fire until the meat is soft.
Maḻŋ'maraŋ bala'pala bala rarryurra maranydjalktja bala'palalila.
Find a board or sheet of iron and pour the stingrays onto it. Traditionally, we would cut leaves or paper bark to put on the ground.
Page 20
Galkurr bäy ŋayi dhu maranydjalk guyŋarryirr ḻarrmaraŋun barrwaṉdja bala ŋaṉarrmaraŋun ŋanaktja. Bala rulwaŋdhurr banikinlila.
Wait a little while for the stingrays to cool down, then remove the skin and scrape the meat off. Put the meat into a bowl.
Yuwalktja rom napurruŋ napurr ŋuli gulkthun man'tjarr wo ṉäku bala rulwaŋdhun munathalila.
Traditionally, we would have snapped off leaves or bark then put it on the sand.
Page 21
Ŋunhi nhe dhu dharwar'yundja ŋaṉarrmaranhaŋurnydja, bala banikinlila rulwaŋdhurr, bala ŋomu'ŋumula barrkuwatjkuŋun.
When you have finished scrapping the meat off the stingrays and put it into the bowl, then knead it together.
Page 22
Nhokal goŋdhu märrmay' ŋomu'ŋumul nhakun mapu'.
Using two hands, scoop the meat out and make a meatball.
Bala gapun djalkthurr ŋanakŋur märr ŋayi dhu baṉḏanydhirr ŋanak.
Then squeeze the water out to make the meat dry.
Page 23
Märraŋuny djukurr'nydja bala manapula ŋanaklil maranydjalklila.
Take the liver fat and mix it with the meat.
Ŋomu'ŋumul ga bäy ŋayi dhu warrpam ŋayatham ŋanak.
Mix them until they are one.
Page 24
Ga ŋunhiyi walu gurrupanminyarawnha bala ḻukanharaw maranydjalkkun. Bukmakku yolŋuw ŋunhi walal marrtji gurruṯumirriwnha malaw gurrupanaraw.
It is time to share the stingrays with family and to eat together.
Mmm, marrkapmirr maranydjalk dhäkay!
Mmm, stingrays taste yummy!
