108 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. 



but resolved to be revenged at a future opportunity. Some time afterwards they 

 went again to the swamp for roots, kindled a fire on the bank, and left the 

 young emus only at it to watch the fire. The young native companions 

 accompanied their mother. The emu came home first, fed her young ones with 

 roasted roots, and hid all her brood except two. The native companion returned 

 with her young ones, and, on inquiring what was being roasted in the fire, was 

 told by the emu that, as she could not find any roots, and was very hungry, she 

 was cooking all her young ones except the two which were running about. 

 Thereupon the native companion killed all her young ones except two, and put 

 them into the fire to roast. After they were eaten, the emu called her brood 

 from then- hiding-place, and, addressing the native companion, said, ' Now I have 

 served you out for deceiving me on a former occasion, and ever after this you 

 will have no more than two young ones at a time, instead of a dozen as I have, 

 and as you had before playing this trick on me.' 



THE BUNYIP. 



The following stoiy was told by the old chief, Morpor, to his daughter and her 

 husband : — Long ago two brothers — one of them so tall that he looked down on 

 everybody, and the other of ordinary size — went to a swamp near Mount 

 William to get swans' eggs. They found a great many ; and, while roasting 

 some of them on the bank of the lagoon, the smaller of the brothers said that he 

 must get some more from the swamp. The taller one forbade him to go alone. 

 However, he did go. He found a nest in the middle of the lagoon, and took the 

 eggs. When returning to the shore, he heard a rush of water behind him, and 

 saw the water-fowls in front of him hurrying along the water as if frightened. 

 At the same time, the bottom of the marsh became so soft that he stuck in the 

 mud, and could not go forward. A great wave overtook him and carried him 

 back to the nest, where a large bunyip caught him in its mouth. It held him so 

 high that his brother saw him. Some hours afterwards the water became calm. 

 The tall brother then took a sheet of bark and put a fire on it, and, approaching 

 the nest, saw his brother in the mouth of the bunyip. Speaking to the bunyip, 

 he said — 'Be quiet, and let me take my brother.' The bunyip gnashed its 

 teeth and gave him up ; but he was dead, and his entrails had been devoured. 

 The brother took the body ashore and laid it near the fire, and wept. He then 

 went for liis friends, who came and carried the coi-pse to their home. After he 



