Nargune was a cave-dweller nanma tier in gingin moogaan ma nanma gingin Mitchell Yarram. Jilly had yaail caves, il should a  Gunnai yangan janana noonga jilly was yad-ba mangina gingin cave il nandha kaang barrat. Woothamal kanu jilly kur-nin-ger a wal munga Nargune, jilly nulla-gullum-bai it, always brenbren-garrarook gingin nurnba ganai. Jilly kehan not be buladyin!

Barrath cave jilly had was munga Lake Tyers; il ngalko nurnba ganai would dare to yangan janana. Gunnai woorcat kooteganman had a pandean thoolo noonga janana thindu cave, but she disappeared, so ngalko koote kalandaningat wunman gingin pandean berndoo berndoo berndoop.

Nargune was magleanman a wallung girtgan wallung except makoote his bang, birndang il bret il ngalko koote knew nanma these were made ma. Jilly was always on gingin doona makoote nurnba gunai in Gippsland il nyeeanbulla were tee-nar-gun ma noonga.

Translated by Hollie Johnson

English Translation

Nargune was a cave-dweller who lived in the valley of what is now the Mitchell River. He had many caves, and should an Aboriginal go near him, he was pulled into the cave and never seen again. If he threw a spear munga Nargune, Nargune returned it, always wounding the black fellow. He cannot be killed!

Another cave he had was munga Lake Tyers; and no black fellow would dare to go near it. An Aboriginal woman once had a fight with him near this cave, but she disappeared, so no-one knows how the fight ended.

Nargune was like a rock; all stone except for his chest, arms and hands and no one knew what these were made of. He was always on the look out for black fellows in Gippsland and they were frightened of him.

Further Information

Sounds of Gunai/Kurnai

a as in but
oo as in foot
a as in but
e as in get
u as in out
rr rolled r sound
ng as in sing
i as in lick