amy's photographs: August 2011

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Legend of the Three Sisters

"Long ago in the Blue Mountains, three Aboriginal sisters, Meenhi, Winimah, and Gunnedoo lived with their father, a Witch Doctor named Tyawan.

Only one creature was feared by all - he was the Bunyip. Tyawan knew where he lived and would leave his daughters high on the cliff behind a rocky wall where they would be safe while he would collect food.

One day, waving goodbye to his daughters he descended the cliff steps. On top of the cliff a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meenhi. She picked up a stone and threw it at ht. The stone rolled away over the cliff and crashed into the valley below. The rocks behind the sisters split open, leaving the sisters on a thin ledge.

There was a deep rumble from belowand the angry Bunyip emerged from his sleep. He looked up to see who rudely awakened him and there, perched on the thin ledge he saw the sisters cowering in fear. Furiously he lurched toward them.

In the valley, Tayawan heard the cry and looked up to see that the Bunyip had almost reached his daughters. Frantically the Witch Doctor pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them into stone.They would be safe there until the Bunyip was gone, then Tayawan would return them to their former selves.

The Bunyip was even more angry when he saw what had happened and he turned on Tayawan and began to chase him. Running away Tayan found himself trapped against a rock which he could neither climb nor go around.He quickly changed into a lyrebird and ran into a small cave. Everyone was safe, but Tayawan had dropped his magic bone. The Bunyip returned angrily to his hole.

Tayawan crept out of the cave and searched for the bone, still seeking it today while the Three Sisters stand quietly waiting, hoping he will find the bone and turn them back to their former selves. In the valley we can hear Tayawan, the lyrebird as he searched for his lost bone."