The Milky Way



Notes



Story

In the long distant past, the Maludaianini people were always sneaking into the jungle with the women of other men, even though they had wives of their own. This behaviour caused a great deal of Jealousy and bickering that finally developed into a fight in which some of the men were killed. After this the Maludaianini people went into the sky, the men becoming the milky way; the women some of the near-by stars.

When the Sun Woman, Wuriupranala, disappears behind the western horizon, and the light of her torch has faded, the men of the milky way travel in a wide band across the sky, visiting their wives as they go.

Early in the evening the Maludaianinis rub the dry perspiration from their bodies. This, falling on the aboriginies' eyelids, makes them so heavy that before long the people are asleep behind their simple bark shelters.

The next morning, just as the stars of the milky way are beginning to fade and the first light of the Sun-woman appears in the eastern sky, the soft melidious call of the honey-eater, Tukimbini, wakes the aboriginies from their sleep for the duties of yet another day.

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