138 On the Astronomy and Mythology of 



names and Mythological Associations for a few of the stars, 

 which names and associations are the same as those in nse with 

 the Booroung's, who say that the earth is flat and was in dark- 

 ness before the Sun was made by Pupperrimbul, (the little bird 

 with the red patch above the tail), when it became light. He 

 was one of the race that then inhabited the earth, and who are 

 called Nurrumbunguttias or old spirits. They possessed fire 

 and were of the same characteristics as the present race, but 

 were translated in various forms to the heavens, before the present 

 race came into existence. 



The Nurrumbunguttias still possess spiritual influences upon 

 the earth ; whether of darkness, of the storm, or of craters, all the 

 evil spirits are of them. They have also spiritual representatives 

 in some creatures, as, for instance, if a pupperrimbul were to be 

 killed, there would be a fearful fall of rain. 



All the stars, as well as all appearances in tyrille (space) are 

 supposed to have emanated from the Nurrumbunguttias. 



Gnowee (Sun), an Emu's egg prepared and cast into (tyrille) 

 space by Pupperrimbul before which the earth was in darkness. 

 Some say the Emu's egg was prepared by Berm-berm-gle and 

 carried into space (tyrille) by Penmen, (a small bird which they 

 do not willingly destroy). 



Chargee Gnowee (Venus), sister of the sun and wife of Gin- 

 abongbearp. 



Ginabongbearp (Foot of Day), (Jupiter) a chief of the Nur- 

 rumbunguttias, and husband of Chargee Gnowee. 



Mityan (Moon), who falls in love with one of Unurgunite's 

 wives, and while trying to induce her to run away with him, 

 is discovered by Unurgunite, when a fight takes place ; Mityan 

 is beaten, and runs away, and has been wandering ever since. 



Marpeankurrk (Arcturus), mother of Djuit and Weetkurrk. 

 The discoverer of the Bittur, and the teacher of the Aborigines 

 when and where to find it. When it is coming into season with 

 them it is going out of season with her. The Bittur is the 

 larvae of the wood ant, which is found in large communities, 

 and of which the Aborigines are very fond. They subsist almost 

 entirely upon it during part of „ the months of August and 

 September. When she is in the north at evening, the Bittur 

 are coming in season, when she sets with the sun the Bittur are 

 gone and (Cotchi) summer begins. 



Djuit (Antares), son of Marpeankurrk. The stars on either 

 side are his two wives. 



Neilloan (Lyra), (a Loan flying), the mother of Totyarguil 

 and discoverer of the Loan eggs, which knowledge she imparted 



