The Creation (3)

After many years of living in harmony

many creatures became dissatisfied with

their state of being, several land species

craved to fly like birds, many fish wanted

to leave the waters and live on the land in

the sunshine, even insects and reptiles

desired a change of lifestyle. There was

much discontent.

Mother Sun came to Earth and gathered her

children together and said to them: Have I not

brought you forth from the Earth's womb? Have

I not shone on your shapeless forms and breathed

life into them? O dissatisfied beings, I have given

you life and the right to choose for yourselves. Do

as you think best. But you shall all repent of the choice

you have made.

The creatures chose as they severally desired. The

kangaroo, the frilled lizards, the bats, the pelicans,

the platypus, the wombats, the frogs all became such as

they had desired. The mouse family of the bats wished

to be birds so now the bat is able to fly though it can't

grow feathers. The koala wished to be rid of its tail that

was the envy of all animals, so the tail died off. Insects

became like bits of bark of trees, or twigs, or dried sticks.

When Mother Sun saw all the strange creatures she sent

a bright morning star, a son of the Spirit World, to watch over

the Earth and with him a companion - the moon. Thus was

the moon born. And the moon descended to the Earth and

became the wife of the morning star.

And they brought forth children.

These children dwelt and multiplied and became the human race.

And as they died they took their places in the sky in the form of stars.

Then Arna and Bajjara said: Remember to whom you owe your birth.

And do not seek to change your state like the animals, the birds, the

reptiles, the insects and the fishes. Remember also that you are superior

to the creatures, and that you and your children and your children's children

will all return to your Great All Father, the Eternal Spirit.

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An abridged, edited and revised account of the Creation based on Aboriginal Legend as recorded by William Ramsay Smith and published in Myths & Legends of the Australian Aboriginals