Lardjanga

In the Dreamtime the Wongar people held a big mortuary ceremony at Dararwoi in Amhem Bay. Both moeties, (dua and jiridja), were dancing. In the centre around the camp fire two Brolga Men are shown with their clapping sticks, acting as songmen and on their left the Possum man, Gabari, with his didjiridu. As the ceremony was nearing the end all the participants changed into natural species. On the left are the two brolga birds, gurugu, in the centre is the possum and above him are the clapping sticks and didjeridu dropped by the men before they changed shape. These beings are shown again as three large stars in the right hand side of the painting. The Crocodile man who was also present is portrayed in the bottom of the painting. He consists of all the stars in the tail of the constellation. This is one of the rare astronomical paintings of the Aboriginals. It shows the stars that make up our constellation of Scorpio. Artist: Lardjanga b. 1932 Language: Ngeimil Clan: Darabangan