The Guardian of the Rivers

Legend has it that the Rainbow Snake and his wife are the guardians of the rivers. The Rainbow Snake allows the blackfellas to catch fish when they are hungry, but if they spear them for fun, he becomes very angry.

Rainbow Snake is a beautiful creature with long red and yellow stripes down his body. His wife is blue from top of her head to tip of her tail. After a shower of rain they sometimes stroll together and their bodies can be seen in the huge curve that stretches across the sky. It is then that the blackfella must be careful because Rainbow Snake can dart down like lightning to pick up anyone who has been foolish enough to catch fish for sport. As a just retribution he feeds them to the fish in the rivers.

 

Michael J Connolly
Munda-gutta Kulliwari
©Dreamtime Kullilla-Art