The Rock Stars
In Dreamtime, when everything came into being, the huge Rainbow Serpent came from below the ground and passed through the area creating ridges, mountains, gorges and leaving distinct traces where it passed.
Our guide explaining that members of neighbouring tribes are now taking care of the land Ubirr as the earlier inhabitants are not there anymore. The missing photos were of rangers who passed away.
For some music to accompany your reading click here: didgeridoo music and turn back to the post while listening
More Rock Paintings
Read the story and learn a lesson in good behaviour
This painting of Mabuyu (and a long-neck-turtle to the right under his spear) reminds Traditional Owners to tell a story which warns against stealing
Have a close look at the menu, fish, fish, fish, mainly Barramundi
Drastic lesson: Mabuyu was dragging his catch on a string after fishing when a greedy person cut the string and stole his fish. That night Mabuyu waited until the thieves had eaten his fish and were camped inside their cave near the East Alligator River. Then he blocked the cave with a huge rock.
“Next morning they never came out. Because they pinched it, they got punished, kids, ladies and men, all dead … finished.” Bill Neidjie
(for goodness’sake)
Now, when you grow up with a story like that, you think twice before breaking the law or a taboo. If the punishment for stealing fish leads to the annihilation of your whole clan, you wouldn’t expect anyone to steal anything from anybody, right? let alone to steal land, culture, children, you wouldn’t expect that until it’s happening. There are a couple of gruesome indigenous stories about the consequences of breaking tribal rules that make your hair stand on end, but when you visit the Hyde Park Barracks Museum in Sydney, you’ll see that Europeans weren’t exactly gentle-hearted in dealing with their lawbreakers either. (later in my last letter)
long-neck-turtle, I don’t remember if it was part of the menu, too
Walking right through Crocodile Dundee country up to the mountain top.
On my way to the most gorgeous sunset
More educational rock paintings: Laws to live by (tough!)
This picture reminds Traditional Owners of a story about a young girl who broke traditional food taboos by eating Barramundi at the wrong time of her life. She was punished too severely and a battle between clans followed, killing many people.
Young boys are told this story by older men pointing spears at them.
On top of the mountain
my shadow is getting longer
The winter sun is setting slowly and it’s getting cold
Sunset overlooking the wetlands, the Nardab floodplain, from the the rocks of Ubirr
(I just couldn’t get enough of it)
Good Night
gerburgkamm 
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