Contents

PREFACE

ix

INTRODUCTION, BY ANDREW LANG, M.A.

xiii

DINEWAN THE EMU, AND GOOMBLEGUBBON THE BUSTARD

1

THE GALAH, AND OOLAH THE LIZARD

6

BAHLOO THE MOON, AND THE DAENS

8

THE ORIGIN OF THE NARRAN LAKE

11

GOOLOO THE MAGPIE, AND THE WAHROOGAH

15

THE WEEOOMBEENS AND THE PIGGIEBILLAH

19

BOOTOOLGAH THE CRANE AND GOONUR THE KANGAROO RAT, THE FIRE MAKERS

24

WEEDAH THE MOCKING BIRD

30

THE GWINERBOOS THE REDBREASTS

35

MEAMEI THE SEVEN SISTERS

40

THE COOKOOBURRAHS AND THE GOOLAHGOOL

47

THE MAYAMAH

50

THE BUNBUNDOOLOOEYS

52

OONGNAIRWAH AND GUINAREY

55

NARAHDARN THE BAT

57

MULLYANGAH THE MORNING STAR

62

GOOMBLEGUBBON, BEEARGAII, AND OUYAN

65

MOOREGOO THE MOPOKE, AND BAHLOO THE MOON

68

OUYAN THE CURLEW

70

DINEWAN THE EMU, AND WAHN THE CROWS

73

GOOLAHWILLEEL THE TOPKNOT PIGEONS

75

GOONUR, THE WOMAN-DOCTOR

77

DEEREEREE THE WAGTAIL, AND THE RAINBOW

83

MOOREGOO THE MOPOKE, AND MOONINGUGGAHGUL THE MOSQUITO BIRD

86

BOUGOODOOGAHDAH THE RAIN BIRD

90

THE BORAH OF BYAMEE

94

BUNNYYARL THE FLIES AND WURRUNNUNNAH THE BEES

106

DEEGEENBOYAH THE SOLDIER-BIRD

108

MAYRAH, THE WIND THAT BLOWS THE WINTER AWAY

115

WAYAMBEH THE TURTLE

117

WIRREENUN THE RAINMAKER

120

NATIVE TEXT OF THE FIRST TALE (APPENDIX)

126

GLOSSARY

129