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WHY EMU CAN'T FLY
Dinewan the Emu was big and strong
with huge wings that carried him over great distances. His wife had lots of children each year and he was well respected and
feared. As all powerful ones, he also had his share of enemies, chief of which was Goomblegubbon the brush turkey. He envied
Emu's power of flight and the way he could run swiftly over the vast plains without tiring. So he made a plan to injure Emu
and he told no-one but his wife of it. He waited till he knew that Emu was going out on the plain to feed and he made sure
that he got there before him. He held his wings close in to his body, ruffled up his feathers and squatted on the ground where
the grass was rich and long.
When Emu had eaten a lot of grass and was in a good mood, Goomblegubbon spoke to him. "Hello,
I feel that as a friend I should point out to you that the others are wondering why a big, strong bird like you should choose
to fly everywhere, instead of walking when you want to get anywhere." Emu looked at him incredulously. How else would he get
anywhere, he wondered. Goomblegubbon continued, " No-one else would dare to tell you these things Emu, but like I said, walking
is best. Flying is something that any bird can do, its common and ordinary. Its only men and strong birds like you and me,
who can get about by walking. Its a sign of distinction." Emu thought about it and replied, "Hmm, perhaps you are right, I
will have to talk about it with my wife this evening." And off Emu went, striding across the plain to test out the theory.
His long legs carried him swiftly home to his wife.
The next day, the two birds met again. "I have thought about it and
decided that you were right," Emu said. "My wife and I chopped off our wings with a stone tomahawk last night. It was painful,
but my leg muscles are growing stronger already. I'll race you to that bush." Brush turkey laughed and laughed. "I never really
thought that you would fall for the tale so easily Emu. Your brains must be as small as a fledglings. But if you want to,
I'll race you."
Emu sprinted across the sun-baked ground,as Goomblegubbon waited until Emu had nearly reached the bush,
then he flapped noisily through the air, alighting well ahead of Dinewan, the Emu. "Ha, ha, what a simpleton you are Emu,"
he cried. "Your people will hardly respect a bird who cannot fly." Emu was angry. He rushed at Brush turkey, striking out
at him with his powerful legs, but Goomblegubbon just flew away laughing. Emu sadly walked home to tell his wife how he had
been tricked.
A whole year went by. Dinewan never said anything to the Brush turkey about the loss of his wings, and this
puzzled the Brush turkey. Emu's legs grew stronger and soon he was able to run as fast as the other could fly.
One morning,
Emu took his largest two children out with him, leaving his other fourteen in their mother's care. He met up with Goomblegubbon
and his wife and their noisy brood. "Busy?" asked Dinewan the emu. "Busy!" exclaimed the Brush turkey, its hard work all day
long just trying to keep all of their bellies full and they still look scrawny. We're trying to get them to hunt for their
own food, but we haven't had much luck so far."
"Yes, I can see that," replied emu, "but the trouble is that there are
too many of them. They don't get a chance to grow big. We disposed of most of ours. We came to the conclusion that the only
way to have strong, healthy chicks was to keep the best of them and get rid of the others. See how much bigger my two are
than yours. The next generation of Dinewans will be real birds." Goomblegubbon and his wife walked all around the Dinewan
chicks and thoughtfully whispered together. Emu walked off with his chicks, chuckling quietly to himself.
The following
day he met Goomblegubbon on the plain. "I have taken your advice, Emu" the Brush turkey said. "Here are my two biggest young.
The others have gone. What do you think of this strong pair?" Dinewan laughed and laughed. "What a simpleton you are," he
said. "A bird's strength lies not in his ability to use his wings, but in the number of his offspring. I am sorry for you,
my friend, but perhaps it will teach you that Brush turkeys are even more foolish than emus.
THAT IS WHY EMUS HAVE MANY
CHILDREN BUT CANNOT FLY, AND WHY BUSTARDS (BRUSH TURKEYS) ONLY LAY TWO EGGS EACH YEAR.
THE FROG WHO CAUSED A FLOOD
In central Australia there
are frogs which survive droughts by distending themselves with water until they are as round as balls. Then they bury themselves
and wait for the rains to come again. In dry weather, the aborigines dig up the frogs and drink the water with which their
bodies are filled. This is the story of one such frog, called Tiddalick.
TIDDALICK was thirsty. He drank the water
of the nearest river until it was dry and nothing was left but black mud at the bottom of a long trench. He walked further
and further, looking for more water to drink as he was still thirsty. He drank up the billabongs, lakes, streams and creeks
that he passed until there was no more water left in all of the land.
Animals and men were distressed. They were thirsty
too and there was no water left for them to drink. Tiddilick had it all in his swollen stomach. By this time, he was so full
that he could not move at all. There was still no sign of rain and the men and animals became desperate. They conferred together
and decided that the only way for them to get a drink was to somehow get it back from Tiddilick. Spears and boomerangs were
useless because the monster frog would not feel them being hurled at him. "We must make him laugh", said Goorgourgahgah the
kookaburra. "If we can do that, he will have to hold his hands against his sides and the water will pour out of his mouth."
Good
idea", said kangaroo. "You do it, you are the best laugher in the bush." Kookaburra perched on a branch close to the frog's
head and his chattering laugh rang out, again and again until he could laugh no more. Tiddilick moved his head and looked
soulfully at kookaburra. Not a smile was to be seen on his sad face. "I give up," said kookaburra tiredly, someone else will
have to try to do it. They all tried. Some of them danced and turned somersaults and the men told funny stories, but it only
made them thirstier and Tiddilick seemed to have gone to sleep.
The last to try was Noyang the Eel. He was their final
hope. He turned himself into a hoop, he wriggled and rolled over and over on the sand, and even stood upright on his tail,
spinning round like Wurrawilberoo the whirlwind.
A tiny smile began to creep slowly ovr Tiddalick's face and a river of
water splashed out of the corner of his mouth. Men and animals rushed forward and drank before it disappeared into the dry
sand. Noyang went on spinning on the point of his tail, faster and faster, till he could scarcely be seen.
Tiddalick started
to chuckly. The grin spread further across his face, and more water slopped out. Deep rumbles came up from his belly and soon
he was laughing so helplessly that he put his hands to his sides and rocked to and fro. His mough opened wide and a great
smooth tide of water came gushing out. It swept the men and animals away and soon Tiddalick was a poor, shrunken little frog,
while as far as could be seen, a shining lake of water spread over the land.
THIS IS WHY AUSTRALIA HAD AN INLAND SEA IN
THE MIDDLE
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