When they awoke each was jealous of the others, although they were all the same they could only see the differences. Thuma became angry at the beauty of his brother, his anger turned red and hot and he killed Yuuwa with a hunting stick. Then Yuuwa breathed out and flew up to the sky and dreamed no more. After him went his breath, which blew all around and separated the place where he flew from the land of his sisters and brother.2
Thuma’s anger grew even hotter that his brother escaped and he grew red until his heart burst and the blood flowed out, covering the land and lighting the faces of his sisters. He chased after Yuuwa following him across the heavens, but leaving some of himself to sink into the earth and dwell in the core. And he dreamed no more.3
Wa’awa saw the anger and fear of her brothers and turned her face away, she ran to the edges of the world and there she sat down and cried. She cried so much that her body couldn’t hold it in and tears poured from her to form the ocean that cuts off the land. She was weary from weeping and so slept. While she slept she dreamed and all her dreams came true. When she awoke and saw what she’d done, the creatures she had dreamed wiggled into her tears and began swimming and playing. They were so beautiful she cried some more, and then she went to dwell with them at the bottom of her tears where she sleeps with quiet dreams, making beasts without ears to match her whispered world. Occasionally she turns over and disturbs Paba’s place.4
Paba had no eyes for her brothers and sister but saw only the serpent Ngathi, and she chased after him. Her footprints made hollows and valleys where she trod and she chased the serpent to the ends of the world. When Ngathi saw her persistence he was glad. He kissed her again and she slept. He curled himself around her and slept too. As they slept they dreamed. All the creatures they dreamed came to life and are living still. 5
Index of words taken from the Ayapathu dialect Wordlist: www.geocities.
Ngathi – father7
Thuma – fire8
Paba – mother9
Yuuwa – sky, cloud10
Wa’awa - river11
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