Aborigine Legend: Dreamtime

The Aborigine legend of creation is called the Dreamtime. This is one of the ancient stories about a rare pool of water near Uluru.

I return the day after the rescue to walk the base of Uluru.  It’s about six miles, a walk filled with legend and lore.  Every feature of this giant rock has a story, a myth, a name.  Looking at this immense rock looming above me, it’s easy to see what led natives to weave stories of mystery and wonder about creation.  They have passed their stories of creation, called Dreamtime or the Dreaming, through generations. 

My guide shares the following Dreamtime legend about a section of Uluru near a rare pool called Motitjutlu Gorge. 

In the time of creation, the snake Kuniya moved her eggs from the top of the rock to the bottom so they would be safe.  Now they look like loose boulders.  

Kuniya learned that her enemy Liru (a venomous snake) killed her nephew and she became distraught. In anger and sorrow, she flung dirt at the rock, creating the black marks that seem to be watermarks.

When Liru saw Kuniya’s grief, he laughed. Kuniya slid across the rock toward her enemy, leaving wavy lines that are still visible. When she reached Liru, she hit him on the head with a stick, but it didn’t kill him—he just laughed harder.  She struck him again and the second blow killed him.  The blows of her stick left cracks in the rock, and his blood left dark marks behind so all would know this story

Then Kuniya fetched her nephew’s remains and carried him to the foot of the rock where the two became one spirit, Wanumpi, who guards the water. The pool that Wanumpi guards is sacred to the Aborigine who almost never use it as a source of water.  

The Anangu learned to locate water where none was apparent.  They identified underground sources by finding plants, and survived on the moisture in and near the vegetation.  By declaring Motitjulu off-limits, they guarantee that there might always be this supply, should all other sources run dry.  

Legend has it that if Wanumpi is unhappy, there will be no rain.  Wanumpi is happy today… the rains continue.

Dreamtime stories have minor variations but there is consistency to them.  For more information on Aborigine legends, check http://www.crystalinks.com/dreamtime.html  or search for Dreamtime.

Since I began posting the AU blog entries here, I've learned about the stunning work of Australian photographer, Julie Fletcher.  Visit  http://www.juliefletcherphotography.com.au to see some exquisite photos of Australia.  

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