Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/317

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SUPERSTITIONS AND TRADITIONS. 239 event that by no means contributed to keep him in good humour. After a great deal of fruitless search, he at last hit upon their track, and, following it; overtook them somewhere about Cape Catastrophe, where they were both killed by him. They were then converted into stone, together with their children, and all may be seen there at the present day in the shape of rocks and islands; and their breathing or groaning be heard in a cave, into which the roaring sea rushes a long way underground. Pulyállana himself was subsequently raised into the sky, at or near Puyundu (the native name for Cape Sir Isaac), where he is sometimes seized with violent fits of rage. On such occasions he raves and storms about among the clouds, and keeps shouting most lustily, like a native when under the influence of violent passion, thus producing what is commonly called thunder. He is armed with waddies, which he used to throw at the natives, particularly the pardnapas, whom he frequently cut through in the middle, hurling the upper and lower parts of the body in opposite directions. Their ancestors, however, entreated him to spare the pardnapas, and hit the sheoaks instead; and this prayer prevailing with him, he now vents his rage on them. The lightning is also his production, being caused by the sudden jerking or opening of his legs in his furious gestures.

II.——The large red species of kangaroo is not to be found at Port Lincoln, although it is said to be plentiful in the north; and, from the following legend, it would appear that one of the species had found its way to the south of this district:——Kupirri was the name of this animal, which is said to have been of a stupendous size, and to have devoured all those who attempted to spear it. Its very appearance inspired the natives of old with overwhelming terror, so that they lost all presence of mind, flinging away the wooden lever (midla) with the spear, which was thereby, of course, prevented from taking effect. At last, however, a match was found for the monster kangaroo in two renowned hunters, named Pilla and Indya, who, falling upon its track near Port Lincoln, on the range stretching to the north,