BELIEFS OF THE ABORIGINES PART 2

Notions of the Flood
The blacks say that after they had fire they were all marnumuk (meaning comfortable) and increased to great numbers; and after many, many years "blackfellows get very bad (wicked), when Purijil (1) and Pallian (2) big one sulky(3)." "PunjiI come down with his big one knife and cut the earth all over like blackfellow cut up damper, and come up water, and Pallian drive all big one water from sea on land; then like great guns come up koor-reen (storms) and pull up all trees, and come up water everywhere, and very bad backfellows drowned, and that great many not very bad, Punjil take up and make stars of, and that Punjil when all gone water, send another very good man and woman, named Berwool and Bobinger, and take and cut up one kangaroo and other animals into small pieces and they became a great number." Karakarook(4) and Tarrer(5), directed by Punjil, again descend and make Berwool and Bobinger acquainted with the way to provide themselves with food and fire, but stop "only little time" and then leave them.

Tradition of the Dispersion of Mankind
The blacks have also a tradition of the dispersion of mankind over all the earth. They say that mankind, after many years, got very many and again very bad, fighting, killing, and eating one another - "no work, blackfellows only beat and make lubras get 'em tunanan (victuals); blackfellows all sit down only one country; Punjil come down again with his big knife, big one sulky, and cut into pieces all men, women, and children, kangaroo, and all living animals, but they not die. Then come up a great storm (koor-reen), followed by many whirlwinds (pit-ker-ring), and take up all the pieces and carry them everywhere - far, far away - and drop them in every country; then blackfellows in all countries; no blackfellows in all countries till then; and blackfellows no more see'em Punjil; he too much sulky. Black doctors sometimes dream of him."

Tradition of the Origin of Wind
Hurricanes and whirlwinds, as well as wind, the blacks have a tradition came from an immense flight of magpies - a larger species than those at present seen. The blacks say that they came in great numbers like flights of cockatoos; that after they came a rushing wind and a number of large bags like sacks appeared in the air, at first not full; they filled as they passed along, as you would blow full a bladder, and when full "they busted, made noise like gun, and then came wind; no wind before this." It is singular that this occurred also "far, far away," and came from N.W.(6)

Thunder and Lightning
Thunder and lightning they believe to be the voice and fire from the eyes of Binbeal(7) when he is sulky with the elements, and will be obeyed; and when he has silenced all, he makes the sun stand before him.

Superstitious Notions of the Warmum
The blacks have superstitious notions of many places, in which, no doubt, in bygone days some awful calamity had befallen their forefathers. Warmum is a very high mountain N.W. of Gippsland and N.E. of Western Port. The blacks have a superstitious notion that whoever looks on this mountain direct will first be struck blind, and then dead; no one can look at it and live unless through some medium. The lubras veil their faces when they come within sight or put boughs and twigs before their faces. The men, when prompted by curiosity to behold it, look along a stick as white people would do through a telescope. The blacks say that "big one Punjil once sit on that mountain."

Superstition about Consulting Bears(8)
The bear is a privileged animal, and is often consulted in very great undertakings. I was out with a celebrated Western Port black tracking five other blacks. The tracks had been lost some days at a part of the country, where we expected they must pass. We ran down a creek; after going some miles a bear made a noise as we passed. The black stopped, and a parley commenced. I stood gazing alternately at the black and the bear. At length my black came to me and said, "Me big one stupid; bear tell me no you go that way." We immediately crossed the creek, and took a different track. Strange as it may appear, we had not altered our course above one and a half miles before we came upon the tracks of the five blacks, and never lost them after. The bear, too, must not be skinned. The blacks have a strange tale of the bears having stolen all their tarnuk (buckets) and drained a creek of water, and so bewildered the blacks that Karakarook came down, and it was settled by Karakarook, on the part of the blacks, that they would no more take the skins from the bears' bodies, and on the part of the bears, that they would no more in any way molest the blacks in supply of water and vessel. The wombat (or warren) is also a sacred animal, and must not be skinned. Many birds are also sacred; some may be eaten by the aged only; others by the doctors only.

FOOTNOTES:
1 . Punjil was the maker of the earth, trees, animals and man.
2. Pallian was Punjil's brother. Pallian made all the seas, rivers, creeks and waters and all the fish.
3. 'Big one sulky' They were very displeased.
4. Karakarook, daughter of Punjil, taught the aborigines how to find their food.
5. Tarrer was a young aborigine who could fly. He taught the aborigines how to make fire.
6. The north west.
7. Binbeal, the son of Punjil, is a god that has a face that encompasses the earth, and has a lubra that always accompanies him. Binbeal is the rainbow, and his lubra is the reflection which may be seen occasionally.
8. Koalas.

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