Barney Wangin
Perentie Man Creation Story
acrylic on linen
198 x 122 cm
788814
Once the woman of the Mann ranges had only rough grinding stone, so their grass seed cakes were course and hard to eat. Their men looked everywhere for better ston...
Once the woman of the Mann ranges had only rough grinding stone, so their grass seed cakes were course and hard to eat. Their men looked everywhere for better ston without luck. One day Ngintaka, the Perentie man was out hunting a long way to the east and heard a woman grinding seed. He realised the sound could only be made from a stone that was fine and smooth so he went to that country to steal the stone and bring it back to his camo. For many days he journyed to the sound getting very near until he ended up at the country of Nginjuri (black lizard) people. When the people came to greet him he didn't tell the tru reason of his visit to them.
The community shared their food with him, although he was forbidden in the main camp for days the woman bought him food and seed cakes made from the finest flour which he had never tasted. At last he entered the main camp and saw the grinding stone. He could hardly wait to steal the stone.
That evening he cut his foot to make the blood flow to pretend he had a serious wound. The next morning the men came to take him hunting, he showed them the wound. Unaware of his deceit they went on their way. As soon as he found himself alone he stole the grinding stone and carried it with him. He made footprints of a small lizard to trick the men. He made his way back to his camp to show his treasure to his people.
The Nginjuri men planned to capture and kill the theif but were so confused for the footprints led in all directions, they always ended up in the centre of the camp. they had almost given up but one man saw where he had walked over some wet grass.
When Ngintaka returned everyone sang his praises. After some time believing he had successfully made it with no one following him he left the stone near the Arana water hole and went hunting. One day he returned home and heard the sound of the men jumping on the stone breaking it into little pieces. He rushed to avenge it's desrtuction only to be met by a number of armed men. He ran to escape but they followed him a fixed him with a number of spears and killed him.
The community shared their food with him, although he was forbidden in the main camp for days the woman bought him food and seed cakes made from the finest flour which he had never tasted. At last he entered the main camp and saw the grinding stone. He could hardly wait to steal the stone.
That evening he cut his foot to make the blood flow to pretend he had a serious wound. The next morning the men came to take him hunting, he showed them the wound. Unaware of his deceit they went on their way. As soon as he found himself alone he stole the grinding stone and carried it with him. He made footprints of a small lizard to trick the men. He made his way back to his camp to show his treasure to his people.
The Nginjuri men planned to capture and kill the theif but were so confused for the footprints led in all directions, they always ended up in the centre of the camp. they had almost given up but one man saw where he had walked over some wet grass.
When Ngintaka returned everyone sang his praises. After some time believing he had successfully made it with no one following him he left the stone near the Arana water hole and went hunting. One day he returned home and heard the sound of the men jumping on the stone breaking it into little pieces. He rushed to avenge it's desrtuction only to be met by a number of armed men. He ran to escape but they followed him a fixed him with a number of spears and killed him.