Roland Burrunali

Namarddakka (Nail Fish), Ngalmangiyi (Long-Necked Turtle) and Kedjebe (File snake)

Kedjebe (file snakes, Acrochordus arafurae) are found in freshwater billabongs, rivers and creeks where there are water lilies and mud. They have very loose, rough skin. Here in Gunbalanya, when the water in the billabong starts to drop in the dry season, families would wade out into the water and catch them for food. Since they are immobilised out of water and are not venomous, people can just pick them up and throw them on the bank. The best way to catch the kedjebe is by standing in the water of a billabong or river and feeling around the mud with your feet, and once you’ve found one reach down and pick it up. The traditional way to kill them is to take the head in your mouth, bite and yank down hard breaking their necks. Nowadays there are too many crocodiles in the Gunbalanya billabong, but there are plenty of
smaller water bodies where people still catch file snakes.
Kedjebe kayo kore kubowinjku kukku kore manlabbarl mankabo manwanjdjad kore mandem manbardmo dja kunkih kayo. Konda kore ngarrihni Kunbarllanjnja kahboyo korroko bu boyahwurdmeni bukmeni wanjh kohbakohbanj daluhdaluk dja binihbininj dja wurdwurd birrikolungi birridjuhmi birrimangi ngalbu kedjebe. Dja bolkkime larrk minj nangale kadjuhme kinga nawern kahyo kore manlabbarlkimuk kahboyo wardi kanbaye kanbun. Dja bu korroko nawu dabborrabbolk
birriburrbuni bu birridjareni birrimangi kedjebe wanjh birrirey kore kahwardeyo kahwardedjuhmiyindi kangeyo Namunurr kumekke birrirey birribirrkani birrimangi ngalbu kedjebe.