Page 2-3:
Waŋganymirriy waluy Yothu Guthirka bira'yurr yakurrŋur bala maŋutji-ḻarruŋala ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuwnha. Ga ŋayiny gan ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny nhanŋu ḻarruŋal ŋathawnha. Djaṉŋarrthinan ŋayi ŋunhi Yothu Guthirkany. Rur'yurr ŋayi bala yarrupthurra raŋilila, ŋathawnha ḻarruŋal.
One day Little Oyster Catcher woke up and looked for her mother. Her mother had gone searching for food that morning. Little Oyster Catcher felt hungry. She stood up and went to the beach to look for food.
Page 4-5:
Nhäŋal ŋayi Djarraknha ŋayi gan ŋarirri' nyaŋ'thurr, bala ŋayi waŋanan bitjarra, “Way! Djarrak, manymak ŋarra dhu dhäkay-birrka'yun dhuwali ŋarirri'?” Ŋayiny Djarrakthuny ŋanya gurrupar ŋarirriny' yurr nhanŋu guthirkawnydja ŋurruny mirithirr binydjitj, ga bäyŋun ŋayi ŋunhi nyaŋ'thurrnydja.
She saw Seagull eating fish and the little Oyster Catcher said, “Hey! Seagull, can I taste that fish?” Seagull gave her a fish but the oyster catcher had a small beak and she couldn't eat it.
Page 6-7:
Raŋi-ŋupar ŋayi gan ŋunhi marrtjinany... bala ŋayi nhäŋala Miyapununhan, ŋayi gan gäywarr nyaŋ'thurr. Ga waŋan ŋayi bitjarr, “Miyapunu nhäthinya dhuwali gäywarrnydja dhäkay?” Ga ŋayiny miyapunuynydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, “Dhuwandja dhäkay gäywarrnydja gorrmur'nha mirithirra nhakun gurthan." Bala ŋayi barrarinan bili gorrmur'nha ŋunhi.
Along the beach went Little Oyster Catcher then she saw Turtle eating a jellyfish. Little Oyster Catcher said, “What does jellyfish taste like, Turtle?” Turtle replied, “This jellyfish is very hot like fire.” Little Oyster Catcher was afraid because it tasted hot.
Page 8-9:
Yow, marrtjinan ŋayi gan ga baralaw ŋayi ḏuwaṯthurr bala nhäŋala djandanhan ŋayi gan nyaŋ'thurr miyapunu mapu'. Ga waŋan ŋayi Djanda nhanŋu bitjarr, "Way, djäl nhe miyapunu mapuw'?" Ga ŋayiny buku-bäkmaraŋal bitjarr, "Ŋe… ŋarra dhäkay-birrka'yun ga?" Ḻukanany ŋayi ŋunhi mapuny' bala gaṯthurra nhanukal ŋurruŋura!
Little Oyster Catcher went over the sand dune and saw Goanna eating turtle eggs. Goanna asked the Little Oyster Catcher, “Hey! Do you want a turtle egg?” Oyster Catcher replied, “Yes, can I taste the turtle egg?” When she ate the turtle egg it got stuck on her beak!
Page 10-11:
Ga marrtjin ŋayi gan guṉḏamirrikurra, bala nhäŋala ŋayi gomunhan ŋayi gan ŋaraka nyaŋ'thurr bala ŋayi waŋan bitjarra, “Nhaltjanna nhe ŋuli ga ŋarakany ḻuka?” Ŋayiny gomuny waŋan bitjarra, "Goŋdja ŋarra dhuwal ḏäl mirithirr ga wirrkthundja ŋarra ŋuli ga mirithirr yan, ga ŋanaktja ŋarra ŋuli marrtji ḻarrmaram ŋarakaŋurnydja miyapunuŋurnydja." Bala ŋayiny gan ŋunhi nhäŋal ganarrthaŋala bili bäyŋu nhanŋu goŋ wirrkthunaraw.
Little Oyster Catcher walked along the rocks and saw Hermit Crab eating a turtle shell. Oyster Catcher said, “How do you eat the shell?” Hermit Crab replied, “My hands are very strong, and I scrape it hard and peel the skin from the shell.” The Little Oyster Catcher looked at the scraps, but she didn't have hands to scrape with.
Page 12-13:
Ga ḻuku ḻupthurr ŋayi gapulil bala nhäŋal ḻaḻuny ŋayi gan ŋäṉ'kaw yaw'yurr munatha', ga guṉḏa mala ḻaw'-ḻawmaraŋal ḻirray nhanukiyingal. Bala ŋayi waŋanan, “Ḻaḻu wanhal nhe ŋuli ga maypalnydja maḻŋ'maram?” Ga ŋayiny ḻaḻuny waŋan bitjarr, "Munatha'ŋur djinawa'." Bala ŋayi gan ŋunhi guthirkany birrka'yunminan yurr ŋurruny nhanŋu ŋunhi dhumbuḻ'nha maypalwuny märranharaw.
Little Oyster Catcher put her feet in the water and saw Tusk Fish digging up clams in the sand and rock with his teeth. Little Oyster Catcher said, “Tusk Fish, where do you find the clams?” Tusk Fish replied, “Under the sand.” Oyster Catcher tried but her nose was too short to get the clams.
Page 14-15:
Djuḏum'mirriykurr munatha'kurr ŋayi gan ŋunhi marrtjinany, bala ŋayi nhäŋala manhdhapiḏin… ŋayi gan gaḻ'yurr munatha'kurr, nyaŋ'thurr marrtjin djuḏum'. Ga ŋayiny manhdhapiḏiny waŋan nhanŋu bitjarr, "Ŋay'', dhäkay-birrka'yun nhe dhu dhuwal djuḏum' munatha'?" Ŋayiny ŋäkul ŋanya bay'nha.
Through the muddy sand went Little Oyster Catcher then she saw Mangrove Slug, he was crawling through the mud and eating it. Mangrove Slug asked Oyster Catcher “Here, you want to try this mud?” Little Oyster Catcher ignored him.
Page 16-17:
Marrtjinany ŋayi gan bala nhinanan warraw'ŋura warwu'-wapthurra, bala marrtjin ŋäthinan ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuwnha. Yaka wiyin'tja... bala ŋayi ḏäwa'yurra bala nhäŋala ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋunhany ŋayi marrtjin dhuryurra.
Little Oyster Catcher went to the shaded area and sat, feeling emotional, then she started to cry for her mother. She hadn't sat long before she saw her mother gliding towards her.
Page 18-19:
''Nhäŋalnydja ŋayi ŋanya bala maṉḏa marrtjinan maypalwun. Milkuŋala ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuynydja nhanukal wanhal maṉḏa dhu ḏiyamu buma.
When she saw her they both went to collect shellfish. Her mother showed her where to find and catch pipis.
Page 20-21:
Bumara-a-a maṉḏa ḏiyamuny dharrwakuŋala, bili ŋurruny nhanŋu ŋunhi ḏäl maypalwuny märranharaw. Bala manda gan nyaŋ'thurra… ga dhäkaynydja ŋunhi dhapirrknha dhika!
They got lots of pipis because her beak was just right to collect those pipis, then they ate them and they were delicious!
Page 2
Waŋganymirr ḻurrkun' miyalkkurruwurr marrtjin bala maypalwu.
One day, three women went out to collect some shellfish.
Page 4
Ŋunhi walal marrtjinany, ŋayiny walalaŋ bunan waŋgany miyalk yäku Garkman.
After they arrived, there was another woman there by the name of “Garkman”.
Page 6
Ga walalnydja nhäŋal ŋanya bala waŋanan bitjarra, "Way Garkman, nhaku nhe dhuwal marrtjin räli?" Ga ŋayiny waŋan, "Go… be muka limurr dhu marrtji bala maypalwu."
When they saw her, the three women asked, “Hey Garkman, why are you here?” Garkman replied, “Oh I thought we were going to collect some shellfish.”
Page 8
Ga walalnydja buku-bakmaraŋal bitjarr, "Nhaka, dhuwal nhe dhuŋa maypalwu, nhe balaŋ bäynha ŋula nhän maypal buŋu."
Yurr ŋayiny Garkmandja bitjarr, "Nhaka… yan limurr marrtjin gu’!"
The women replied, “No, you don’t know about shellfish, you might collect the inedible ones.” Garkman responded, “It doesn’t matter, let’s go!”
Page 10
Bala walal yarru'-yarrupthurra raŋilila, bala marrtjin bumara maypalnha yurr mekawu’ yan.
Then they all went down to the beach to get shellfish, but they were only getting milky rock oysters.
Page 12
Ga ŋayiny ŋunhi Garkmandja dhuŋa ŋurukiyi maypalwu, bili ŋayi ŋuli ga nhina yan wäŋaŋur, bala ŋayi dhumbal'yurra nhäthinya mekawu’ maypal.
Garkman knew nothing about milky oysters, she always stayed home and was confused because she didn’t know what milky oysters looked like.
Page 14
Bala ŋayi marrtjin bumarnydja dhuŋuŋaniŋ’nha yanbi mekawun’.
Garkman was collecting some sugar limpets thinking they were the milky oysters.
Page 16
Bumar ŋayi marrtjin dhaŋaŋ. Bala ŋayi wätthurra walalaŋ, "Walal! Wanhan nhumalaŋguny maypal? Ŋarrany dhuwal bilin dhaŋaŋguŋala."
She collected more and more of the sugar limpets. Then she called out to the women, “Hey! Did you guys get anything? I’ve got plenty!”
Page 18
Bala walal bukmak yan marrtjin balan ḏiltjilila, ga walalnydja waŋan bitjarr, "Way! Gumurr-djarrak, dhaŋaŋguŋal nhe dhuwal muka? Mak napurr nhäma nhuŋu go."
Then they all went to the bush, the women looked and said, “Oh you poor thing, you got so many, can you show us what you’ve collected?”
Page 20
Ŋunhi walal nhäŋalnydja bala walal gitkitthunminan nhanŋu, yän bili ŋayi gan ŋunhi bumarnydja dhuŋuŋaniŋ’nha maypal, yakan mekawuny’. Ga ŋayiny waŋan bitjarr, "Nhaku nhuma ga gitkitthunmirrnydja?"
When they saw what Garkman had collected, they all burst into laughter. She was collecting the wrong oysters which were not edible because she thought that’s what the milky oysters looked like. She asked the women, “Why are you laughing at me?”
Page 22
Ga walalnydja gan gitkitthunminan yan. Ŋayiny goranan mirithinan, bala ŋayi waŋganydja miyalk waŋan bitjarra, “Gu', ŋarra milkum nhokal nhaltjan nhe dhu maḻŋ’maram maypal ŋunhi limurr dhu buluny marrtji.”
The women just kept laughing. She was really embarrassed, but one of the women told Garkman, “Come, I’ll show you how to find the right oysters the next time we go collecting."
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel worr'wurrnha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga garkmannha ga nyiknyiknha bili ŋayi djaṉŋarrthin ŋathaw.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel garkmannha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga milkmilknha bili ŋayi djälthin ŋathaw.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel weṯiny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga yolŋuny goŋ-märriyaŋmirriny.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel butjikitnha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga nyiknyiknha wanaŋamirriyam garrwarlil dharpalil.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel bikipikiny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga butjikitnha waṉḏinyalil.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel ḻaḻuny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga gäywarrnha ga nyumukuṉiny' ŋarirri' mala.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel bul'manydjiny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga maranydjalknha bala ŋupana.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel wurrpaṉ'nha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga ḏingu.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel bäruny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wuŋgannha ga djälthirrnydja ŋayi ga ḏarrkthunarawnha yan nhanŋu.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel miyapununy.
Nhäma ŋayi ga ḏakawany ga nyumukuṉiny'nha ŋarirriny' mala.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel ḏawurrnha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wurrki' gukumirr.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel boṉbany.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wiripuny boṉbany mala bul'yunalil.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel yindiny bäpiny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wiripuny bäpiny, ga djälthirrnydja ŋayi ga malthunaraw nhanŋu.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel marrŋuny'.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wiripuny marrŋuny' nyaŋ'thunalil man'tjarrlil.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel gaḻaŋgamirriny.
Nhäma ŋayi ga wulu, ga djälthirrnydja ŋayi ga nyaŋ'thunaraw ŋunhi.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel warrnyuny.
Ḻarrum ŋayi ga borumgu ŋayi dhu nyaŋ'thun.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel woṉnha.
Nhäma ŋayi ga djarraṯawun.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel ḏamalany.
Nhäma ŋayi ga ŋarirri', ŋunhi ŋayi bumar.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel djandany.
Ḻarrum ŋayi ga mindjirriw ŋunhi ŋanya ḏarrkthurr.
Nhäŋu mel.
Nhäŋu ŋathil mel djamarrkuḻiny'
Nhänhamirr walal ga giḻatjlil.
Ga bitjana walal ga birrka'yunmirrnydja yanbi walal mokuynha, yurr yuwalktja walal yaka.
ENGLISH
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of an owl.
Looking at the frogs and the mice hungrily.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the frog.
Looking at the mosquito hungrily.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the kangaroo.
Looking at the man with a gun.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of a cat.
Looking hungrily at the mouse in a hole.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of a pig.
Looking at the cat running away.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the dog.
Looking at the other dogs playing.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the fish Looking at the octopus.
Look at the eyes .
Look at the eyes of the shark.
Looking at the stingrays hungrily.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of an emu.
Looking at the cycad nuts.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the crocodile
Looking at the dog and it wants to eat it.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the turtle.
Looking at the prawns.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the bees.
Looking at the flower for honey.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the butterfly.
Looking at the other butterflies.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the big snake.
Looking at the other snake it wants to eat.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the possum.
Looking at the other possums eating leaves.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the dugong.
Looking at the sea weed and wants to eat it.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the flying fox.
Looking for some fruits to eat.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the moth.
Looking at the light.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of an eagle.
Looking at the fish it caught.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the goanna.
Looking for the sandfly which bit him.
Look at the eyes.
Look at the eyes of the children.
Looking at themselves in the mirror.
They think that they are monsters, but really they're not.
FROM A STORY BY Nancy Gununwanga
in the Ndjebbana language of central Arnhem Land.
Illustrations by Robert Williams.
Story in Djambarrpuyŋu.
By Helen Rrikawuku
© NT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
ILLUSTRATIONS - MANINGRIDA LPC
TEXT - GALIWIN'KU LPC
ILLUSTRATIONS PRINTED BY MANINGRIDA LPC
OCT 1993
DJAMBARRPUYŊU TEXT PRINTED BY GALIWIN'KU LPC 1996
MEL
TEXT IN DJAMBARRPUYŊU BY HELEN RRIKAWUKU
ILLUSTRATIONS: ROBERT WILLIAMS.
Page 1:
Ŋarrakal buthuruydja ŋuli ga ŋäma. Bitjan nhakun weṯiy' ŋuli ŋäma djambatjnha yolŋuny.
My ears are for listening. Like the wallaby listening for the hunter.
Page 3:
Ŋarrakal melyu ŋuli ga nhäma. Bitjan nhakun ḏamalay ŋuli nhäma ŋarirri' gapulil.
My eyes are for seeing. Like the sea eagle sees the fish in the water.
Page 5:
Ŋarrakal ŋurruy ŋuli ga nhuman. Balanya nhakun mäṉay' ŋuli nhuman maŋgu.
My nose is for smelling. Like a shark smelling blood.
Page 7:
Ŋarrakal goŋdhu ŋuli ga ŋayatham. Balanya nhakun nyokay' ŋuli goŋdhu ŋayatham dharpa ḏälkum.
My hands are for holding. Like the crab holding the branch tightly.
Page 9:
Ŋarrakal ḻukuy ŋuli ga waṉḏirr. Nhakun waṯuy ŋuli warr'warryun djamarrkuḻiny'!
My feet are for running. Like the dog chasing children!
Page 11:
Ŋarrakal mathay ŋuli ga dhäkay-birrka'yun.
Nhakun djanday ŋuli ḻuka miyapunu mapu'?
Yaka! Balanya nhakun Märiy ŋuli ḻuka guku!
My tongue is for tasting.
Like a goanna eating turtle eggs?
No! Like Grandmother eating honey!
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 5
Waŋganymirriy waluy dhiyal wäŋaŋur Galiwin'ku. Ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋu gan nhinan wäŋaŋur yurr ŋayi gan ŋunhi ŋäthin yolŋuny ga yaka marŋgi nhä ŋayi dhu djäma.
"Ye wäŋany dhuwal dhukunmirra!", bitjarr ŋayi waŋan. Yurr ŋayi gan baḏak ŋunhi ŋäthin ga ḏawa'-ḏawayurr nhanŋu muḻkurrnydja.
One day in the town of Galiwin'ku, a mother sat crying, not knowing what to do.
"Our town is just so messy!" she said, as she went on crying and shaking her head.
Page 6
Ŋunhi walal marrtjin ga nhäŋal ŋunhi dhukun mala, ga mel-djaw'yunmin walal. Yakan walal gan djälthin djämaw!
Ga yuwalktja walal gan ŋunhi djälthin wakalwu buḻ'yunaraw bala walal waṉḏinan. Ga ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuydja marrtjin nhäŋala djamarrkuḻiny' guŋga'yunamiriwnha mala, bala ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny goramirriyinany.
Well, the kids of the town, they looked away, no one wanted to pick up rubbish all day!
Then off they ran to play their games, while the mother looked at them with shame.
Page 8
Yurr mak ŋula yolthu ŋanya ŋäkul ŋäthinyalil. Bala yindi djarraṯawun' bunan nhanŋu beŋur maŋanŋur.
Ga bitjarrnydja gan dhärran gumurrŋur nhanukal, beŋur garrwarŋur yarrupthurr ŋula wanhamiŋur wäŋaŋur. Dharrwa ga yindi mala wurrpaṉ' bunan ŋunhiliyi wäŋaŋur.
But someone must’ve heard her cry, because down came lightning from the sky. Then standing in front of her out of the blue, was a whole huge mob of proud Emus!
Page 11
Nhäŋal walal wiṉ'kuŋulil, ga nhäŋal walal dhunupaŋulil. Bala walal nhäŋal dharrwa dhukun gumurrŋur walalaŋgal.
Ga waŋanhamin walal bitjanmin, "Ŋathili walala nhäŋu dhukun, walalaŋguŋu djämapuy yolŋu'-yulŋuwuŋu!" bitjarr walal waŋanhamin ŋunhi mala wurrpaṉ', "Ŋathili limurru dhu dhuwala djäma dhukun!" Bala walal dhärranan.
Well, they looked to the left and they looked to the right, and they looked at all that rubbish in their sight.
"Look at all the mess they’ve made!", they said. "We need to have an Emu Parade!"
Page 12
Bala walal marrtjin dhärran, waŋganynha walal djäma dhunupan wiyin'nha dhukarr.
Ga beŋur garrwarŋur walal baḻapthurrnydja ŋoylil. Bala marrtjin dhukunnha wapmaraŋal munathaŋura!
So they got themselves into one long line, and they marched across that town so fine.
And from way up high, they all leaned down, to pick up all the rubbish on the ground!
Page 15
Nhälil walal wurrpaṉ'thu mala dhukun djuḏupmaraŋal? Walal djuḏupmaraŋal dhukundja dhukunpuylil. Nhälil walal wurrpaṉ'thu mala dhukun djuḏupmaraŋal? Walal djuḏupmaraŋal dhukundja dhukunpuylil banikinlil!
What did the Emus put the rubbish in? They put that rubbish in the rubbish bin!
What did the Emus put the rubbish in? They put that rubbish in the rubbish bin!
Page 16
Ga bulu djaḻkarr'yurr djarraṯawun' walalnydja wurrpaṉ'tja mala winya'yurra. Ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny rur'yurr goḏarrmirrnydja ga nhäŋal walun.
Bala ŋayi waŋan, "Nhäŋu ŋäthil ḏarrtjalknha dhuwal wäŋany bilin djämapuynha. Mak djamarrkuḻiy' walal dhuwal dhukun djäma yurr walal ŋunhi wurrpaṉ'nha wanaŋguŋalnydja!"
With another flash of lightning, they were gone, then the mother woke up to the morning sun.
She said, "Look how clean our town’s been made, those kids must’ve had an Emu Parade!"
Page 18
Ga ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋunydja gurrupara walalany djamarrkuḻiny' märr-ŋamathinyawuy rom dhangi'yurra walalany. Ŋunhi walal marrtjin dhukundja wapmaraŋal nhanukal dhukarrŋur. Ga bäyŋun walal lakaraŋal nhanukal ŋunhiwurrnhany wurrpaṉ'nhany mala.
Well the mother gave all those kids a treat, for picking up the rubbish all along her street.
They never told her (well, would you?), about the parade of those proud Emus!
Page 21
Ga beŋuryiny ŋupar walal djandi waŋgany. Ga ŋunhi mala djamarrkuḻi' waŋgany manapanmin ŋunhal bala bukuŋur dhukarrŋur. Ga ḻuŋ'thurr walal bala djäma waŋganynha wiyin' dhunupa yarraṯa, bala walal marrtjinan buku-ḻiw'maraŋala wäŋakurra.
But after that then, once a week, those kids got together at the top of the street.
And they got themselves into one long line, and they marched across that town so fine.
Page 23
Ga garramatŋur, walal bukmak baḻapthurr yurr nyilŋ'thurr ŋoylil!
Nhälil walal djamarrkuḻiy' dhukun djuḏupmaraŋal? Walal djuḏupmaraŋal dhukundja dhukunpuylil banikinlil.
And from way up high, they all leaned down, to pick up all the rubbish on the ground! And what did they put that rubbish in? They put all the rubbish in the rubbish bin!
Page 24
Dhiyaŋuny bala wanhawal nhe dhu djuḏupmaram nhuŋuwuy nhe dhukun?
"Dhukunpuylil banikinlil." Ga balanya dhuwal dhäwuny nhumalaŋ.
So now what will YOU put YOUR rubbish in? "We’ll put all OUR rubbish in the rubbish bin!"
And that's the end of the story.
Page 3.
Warrakan' ga nhina dharpaŋur. Nyaŋ'thun ŋayi ga mewirri' yalu'ŋur. Ga djamarrkuḻi' mala ga ŋorra galkun nhanŋu.
A bird was sitting in the tree. She was eating worms in the nest. And the children were sleeping waiting for her.
Page 5.
Bala waŋgany nhanŋu yothu rur'yurr ga waŋan ŋayi, "Ŋama', wanha ŋarraku ŋatha? Ŋarra dhuwal djaṉŋarrthin."
"Bulnha, bulnha. Gumurr-djararrk waku. Ŋarra dhu buṯthun bala retjalil ga buma nhuŋu dharrwa mewirri', ga wiripuny wäwaw maṉḏaŋ ga yapaw."
"Ma!" Biyak marrtjin yolŋuny. "Ŋarra marrtji dhuwal djaṉŋarrthirra."
Then one of her children woke up and said, "Mum, where is my food? I am hungry."
"Hold on, hold on. My poor child. I will fly over to the bush and get you lots of worms, and for your other two brothers and sister."
"Okay, hurry up mum!" he said. "I am becoming hungry."
Page 7.
"Ya dhuwana ya' waku ŋarra dhu buṯthuna."
"Yes here I go child, I will fly."
Page 9.
Buṯnha ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny nhanŋu. Buṯthurr ŋayi…..i, djuḻkmaraŋal ŋayi guḻun gapu wäkwakmirr, ga djuḻkmaraŋal ŋayi yindi retja gulaka'mirr. Ŋunhiny ŋayi marrtjin buku-märraŋal ŋunhiyin wäŋa ŋatha dharrwamirra.
The mother flew away for him. She flew….., she passed the billabong water full of waterlilies, and she passed the thick scrub full of yams. There she noticed lots of food at that place.
Page 11.
Ga bumar ŋayi mirithin dharrwa ŋatha mala nhanŋuwuy ga nhanukalaŋaw djamarrkuḻiw'.
And she collected lots of food for herself and for her children.
Page 13.
Bala roŋiyinan buṯthurr balayin nhanukalaŋuwal djamarrkuḻi'walnha.
Then she flew back to her children.
Page 15.
Ga ŋayiny nhäŋalnha ŋanya ŋuriŋiny yothuydja nhanukal ŋunhi ŋayi djuy'yurr ŋanya ŋathaw. Bala ŋayi bitjarra waŋan, "Walal rur'yurra walal, ŋamany' dhuwana ŋathaŋurnydja, ga dharrwa ŋatha mala ŋayi ga gäma limurruŋ!"
Bala walal rur'yurra bala walal gan galkurra nhanŋu.
The child who sent her off for food saw her again. Then he said like this, "Everyone, wake up everyone, mum is back from getting food, and she is carrying lots of food for us!"
Then everyone woke up and they waited for her.
Page 17.
Buṯthurrnydja ŋayi gan ŋunhi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny walalaŋ, dhal'nha nhinanan ŋayi yalu'ŋurnha.
The mother bird flew to them, then landed and sat in the nest.
Page 19.
Bala ŋayi marrtjin gurru'-kurruparnha walalaŋ. Bala walal marrtjin nyaŋ'thurrnha ga maranhuyin.
Ga bilin dhuwal dhäwuny – warrakan'puy dhäwu.
Then she gave the food to them. Then they ate it and became full.
And that's the end of the story.
Page 2
Baman'birr, yindi wata bunan, ga marrtjinany ŋayi gan moṉukkurr gapukurr. Yurr ganydjarr-ḏumurr, boy'yurr ga buṯmaraŋal dharpa ga wäŋa mala.
Ga yothu miyapununy, dhawuṯmaraŋal bala djaw'yurr ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuwal barrkulil wäŋalil.
Ga dhäŋur beŋuryi wataŋur, ŋayi yothuny miyapunu ḏawa'-ḏawayurra, nhinan ḏilmay'mayŋura wäŋaŋur.
Long ago, a huge wind came from across the sea. It blew so strongly that it blew away trees and houses. A baby turtle was blown far away from her mother. After the storm, the baby turtle looked around her at the bush.
Page 4
Ga bäyŋun ŋayi nhäŋal ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny ga gapu moṉuktja. Bala ŋayi mirithinan barrarin.
Bala ŋayi marrtjinan bala…a ga nhäŋal mulkurun wäyin.
“Way! Wanha moṉuktja gapu?” bitjarr yothu miyapunu wäŋan.
“Barrkun birrnha moṉuktja gapu,” bitjarr weṯiy' lakaraŋal. "Nhaku muka?”
“Ŋarra djäl ŋarra dhu nhäma ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny ŋarraku.”
She couldn't see her mother or the sea. She was very frightened.
So she went along and then she saw a strange animal.
"Hey! Where is the sea?" asked the baby turtle.
"The sea is far away," the kangaroo told her. "Why do you want to know?"
"I want to see my mother."
Page 6
"Ma'. Ŋarra nhunany dhu gäma, wapthurr ŋarrakal bathilil.”
Wap, wap, wapthun. Ŋulatjar bala ṉinydjiyakurr wäŋakurr wapthurr.
Ŋunhan ṉinydjiyaŋur wäŋaŋur, ŋayi yothuny miyapunu wäŋan,
“Djutjtjutjnha Weṯi'”.
"Okay. I'll take you, jump into my pouch."
Hop, hop, hop. They hopped to the flood plain country.
At the flood plains, the baby turtle said, "Goodbye Kangaroo."
Page 8
Bala ŋayi marrtjinan bala…a ga nhäŋal mulkurun wäyin.
"Way! Wanha moṉuktja gapu?” bitjarr yothu miyapunu wäŋan.
“Barrkun birr moṉuktja gapu,” bitjarr wurrpaṉ'dhu wäŋan. "Nhaku muka?"
"Ŋarra djäl ŋarra dhu nhäma ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny ŋarraku.”
She went along and then she saw a strange animal.
"Hey! Where is the sea?" asked the baby turtle.
"The sea is far away," the emu told her. "Why do you want to know?"
"I want to see my mother."
Page 10
“Ma'. Ŋarra nhunany dhu gäma, wapthurr ŋarrakal ḏiltjilil.”
Waṉḏin, waṉḏin, waṉḏin. Ṉinydjiyakurr wäŋakurr gapukurr guḻunmirrikurr waṉḏin. Ŋunhal guḻunmirriŋur wäŋaŋur, ŋayi nyumukuṉiny' miyapunu wäŋan,
"Djutjtjutjnha Wurrpaṉ'.”
"Okay. I'll take you, jump onto my back."
Run, run, run. They ran across the flood plains and through the billabong country. At the billabong, the baby turtle said, "Goodbye Emu."
Page 12
Bala ŋayi marrtjinan bala…a ga nhäŋal, mulkurun wäyin, ŋayi guya marrtjin ḏiṯthurr gapuŋur.
“Way! Wanha moṉuktja gapu?” bitjarr yothu miyapunu waŋan.
“Barrkun birr moṉuktja gapu,” bitjarr gäḻumayyu lakaraŋal. “Nhaku muka?”
“Ŋarra djäl ŋarra dhu nhäma ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny ŋarraku.”
She went along and then she saw a strange animal; he was catching fish in the water.
"Hey! Where is the sea?" asked the baby turtle.
"The sea is far away," the pelican told her. "Why do you want to know?"
"I want to see my mother."
Page 14
“Ma'. Ŋarra nhunany dhu gäma, wapthurr ŋarrakal ḏiltjilil ŋali buṯthuna.”
Buṯ, buṯ, buṯthurr. Garrwarrkurr maṉḏa gapulil moṉuklil buṯthurr.Bala miyapunuytja nhäŋal ŋoynha gapun.
"Okay. I'll take you, jump onto my back and we'll fly."
Flap, flap, flap. They flew through the sky to the sea.
The baby turtle looked down at the sea.
Page 16
Bala yan mirithirra ŋoy-ŋamathirrnydja bala yan ŋurrkanhaminan garrwarŋur bala ŋoylil munathalila.
She was so excited that she jumped off.
Page 18
Dhur… thuryuna bala ŋarakan burakirr. Dhurthur… yurr… gut! Ḏaŋgalknha.
Down, down, bang! She jumped.
She hurt her back.
Page 20
Bala ŋayi nhumandja moṉuknha gapu, bala gaḻ'yuna marrtji ŋayi, ga gaḻ'yun, ga gaḻ'yun yan ḻinygu. Buluny ŋayi ga gulkurun gaḻ'yun.
She could smell the sea. She crawled and crawled and crawled, until she couldn't crawl anymore.
Page 22
Ga miyalknha marrtji, bala ŋayi nhäman miyapununy bala ḻaw'maraman, bala gäman moṉuklila gapulil.
Then a girl came along and saw the turtle, so she picked her up and carried her to the sea.
Page 24
Ŋunhi ŋayi dhäkay-ŋämany gapuny miyapunuytja, bala yan mirithirra ŋayi galŋa-djulŋithirr.
Bala ŋayi waythuna ḻarruman ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuwnha.
When she felt the salt water, the turtle was very happy. Then away she went to look for her mother.
Page 26
Ga ḻinygun dhuwal dhäwuny.
And that is the end of the story.
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.
Page 2-3:
Waŋganymirriy waluy maṉḏa gan nhinan, Wäk ga Wurrpaṉ'. Ga märranhaminany maṉḏa, bala maṉḏa gan nhinanany ṉäkuŋura wäŋaŋurnydja. Yurr ŋayi ŋunhi Wurrpaṉ'tja ḏuŋḏuŋ.
Once upon a time, lived Crow and Emu. They were married and lived together in a bark house. Emu was lazy.
Page 4-5:
Bala waŋganydhuny waluy ŋayi marrtjin dharyurra, bala ŋayiny ŋunhi ḏuŋḏuŋdja Wurrpaṉ' mirithinan galŋa-djulŋithin, bala ŋayi marrtjin baldhurr'yurra ŋunhi wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy.
One day it rained and Lazy Emu became so happy that he started to kick their house.
Page 6-7:
Ga bitjarra bili ŋayi gan wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy baldhurr'yurra yan, bala ŋayiny Wäktja waŋan nhanŋu bitjarra, "Way! Nhaku nhe ga dhuwal litjalaŋ wäŋany baldhurr'yun, ŋayi dhu dhuwal ḏaw'yunna."
Lazy Emu kept kicking their house and Crow said to him, "Hey! What are you kicking our house for, you'll break it!"
Page 8-9:
Ga ŋayiny gan Wäktja nhinan djinawa wäŋaŋur. Bala ŋayi gapun nhäŋal, ŋayi marrtjin gärrin wäŋalil.
Crow was inside the house. She saw water coming in from the roof.
Page 10-11:
Bala beŋuryiny ŋayi Wäktja märr-maypathinan, bala ŋayi waŋanan Wurrpaṉ'kala bitjarra gam', "Ma', nhepi yan dhu djämany dhuwali, dhiyaŋ bala bondi yan."
After that Crow was very upset and she said to Lazy Emu, "You'll have to fix it up right now."
Page 12-13:
Ŋayiny Wurrpaṉ'thuny baḏak gan baldhurr'yurr maṉḏaŋguwuy wäŋany, bäyŋun ŋayi dhuli'na-bitjurr Wäkkuny gurrupuruŋuwnydja.
Emu kept kicking their house and didn't take any notice of poor Crow.
Page 14-15:
Ga bulu ŋayi Wäk waŋan bitjarr, "Way ḏuŋḏuŋ Wurrpaṉ', nhaku nhe ga dhuwal baḏaktja baldhurr'yun dhuwal wäŋany litjalaŋ? Muka balanya nhuŋu ŋayaŋuny, bäyŋu nhe ŋuli ga buthuru-bitjun ŋarraku, ma' nhinin gi dhiyala galkurra ŋarraku."
Crow shouted, "Hey Lazy Emu, why are you still kicking our house? So that's what you're like, you don't listen. Okay, sit here and wait for me."
Page 16-17:
Bala ŋayi Wäktja buṯthurra.
Then Crow flew away.
Page 18-19:
Yaka weyin' bala ŋayi roŋiyinan Wäktja yurr goŋ-guḻayŋumirra, ŋayiny Wurrpaṉ'thuny gan baḏaknha baldhurr'yurr ŋunhi wäŋany maṉḏaŋguwuy.
Not long after, she came back carrying a fire stick, and Emu was still kicking their house.
Page 20-21:
Bala ŋayi Wäkthuny ŋurrkaŋala ŋunhi gurthany nhanukal Wurrpaṉ'kalnydja gumurrlila, bala ŋayi nhäranan Wurrpaṉ'tja, ga ŋayiny Wäktja buṯthurra winya'yurra nhanukal.
Crow threw the firestick at Emu's chest; Emu burnt and Crow flew far away.
Page 22-23:
Ga dhiyaŋuny bala ŋayi ga baḏak gorrum nhanukal bakparrnydja gumurrŋurnydja, ŋunhi ŋäthil Wäkthu ŋanya bathar baman'birr.
Today Emu still has a burn mark on his chest from where Crow burnt him long ago.
