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ANCIENTDIMENSIONS ARTICLE:. |
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KGU'LULU - LANDS OF MYSTERY Brett J Green |
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There are many mysteries in this ancient land of Australia and the
great holes of Kgu’lulu are one of those. In the “mythical” legend of
Gympie and its “yellow stones”, we are told that there were once ten great lakes
joined together to form a great waterway stretching from Noosa in the south to Tin Can Bay
(or Maryborough) in the north and westwards towards the City of Gympie today. Only six of
these ancient lakes exist today – Lakes Poona, Coolamara, Como, Cooloola, Cootharaba
and Cooroiba.
Geological information available today confirms that the Cooloola National Park region
east of Gympie was at one time, a great system of lakes stretching to the north and south
as claimed by the legend. Evidence of those unique lakes is still visible particularly
from aerial views and new map productions of the region – those in the north are
solely comprised of fresh water while those closer to the Noosa region are of salt
composition. These remaining lake systems form ecological habitats for flora, fauna, fish,
crustaceans, and sea bird colonies along the Noosa River.
These coastal wetlands and range-forest areas extended from east of Gympie City to
Fraser's Island, Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Double Island Point, Noosa and inland to the
coastal ranges at the source of both the Noosa and Mary Rivers and their tributaries. To
the north of these coastal lands lay the traditional territories of the Bat'ja:
Bat’jala peoples from Maryborough and Fraser’s Island who had a different
language dialect and versions of cultural belief to that of the Ka’bi peoples.
The great lake systems and waterways were once part of a land region the original natives
referred to in their folkloric legends as the mysterious “land of
Dha’muri”. This was a land of strange peoples, strange constructions and places
where “strangers” from “over the sky” appeared. The “land of
Dha’muri” stretched inland as far as the City of Gympie today.
As far as it can be established, the only known European pioneer recordings list the
original ten Ka’bi clans occupying the lands east of Gympie towards the Cooloola
National Park-Tin Can Bay-Noosa-Nambour regions as the Dhunga'bira Spear Fishermen of the
Kauri Creek-Tin Can Bay Straits region; the Dhulin'gi Shell peoples of the Tin Can Bay
northern inlet region; the Dham'buri/'bari Shellfish peoples of Rainbow Beach and southern
Fraser’s Island region; the Dha'kgulu Swan peoples of the Double Island Point region;
the Dhu'mirri Trap Hunters of the upper Noosa River region; the Dhu'pirri Net
Makers/Fishermen of the Teewah-North Shore region near Noosa; the Dhi'lumi
“whispering” people (Negritos) of the Kin Kin hinterland range regions; the
Dhi'langi Clay Makers of the Pomona-Cooroy region; the Dhim'bari Drum Makers of the
Tewantin-Noosa-Weiba region; and the Dhu'danga Canoe peoples of the
Eumundi-Yandina-Nambour-Maroochy region.
In these “new lands” of Kgululu, the Ka’bi speaking peoples told many
stories of their daily life and hazards of existence in their territorial lands north,
south and west. The following is a graphic extract of an incident at Fraser's Island
recorded by one pioneer in July 1862.
"Today, I was witness to a great tragedy. I observed
from my point of standing on the beach sands, three families on their way to the island
with a dead relative. They had been presumptious of their skills in crossing the waters
which had assumed the position of the ebb some short period before their arrival. There
was an altercation between the groups as they made haste with the crossing. The tragedy
occurred about mid-stream when several craft came into conflict with each other and
overturned. There was much confusion in the waters as I became witness to the vicious
attack by several shark. The bodies of the dead disappeared into the waters. The craft and
clan members were taken by the sea also. Of 53 members from the groups to which I had
taken count, only 17 returned to my shores - the women and children lost in the
calamity."
Another extract reports cannibalism.
"Today, I learned that the act of cannibalism was still
practised by some Dham'bari (a clan occupying the southern section) on the island, but
then only on those killed in battle, by accident, or (through punishment?). These were
healthy ones and good to eat. The Ba'tja (a dominant native clan occupying the central
section of Fraser's Island) I am told, perform such rituals also. The Ngu'lu (a fiercely
territorial native clan from the northern section) were bad they stressed. They would seek
out such flesh from any unfortunate who should be encountered in their way - so they
said."
This extract refers to an ancient wreck.
"We came across an ancient wreck near-covered by sands,
and bearing signs of great age - the carvings and its design is none known by me. The
timbers had wrotted somewhat, and I estimate it will soon be taken by the sea and not seen
again. The Ba'tja (native clans in the region) said the brown-skinned "yellow
hairs" who had great strength, built it after the "wind spirit dugouts"
came in from the place of stones inland. They were taken away by the great winds.”
“These strange people it seems, tried to flee the island, but the sea demons turned
it back onto the sands - and there it remained. This was a very long time ago when the
lands shook and the (islands?) were made by the earth spirits. Many peoples lived along
the shores and in the lands around - but not at Dha'mu'ri for this is where the Gods of
the Seas (or Skies) came down to the waters in their shiney cloud (canoes?) and (sailed?)
the waters in their (yellow?) and feathered skins.”
“The natives indicated that they were told by the Na'tja (old spirit men?) that these
people spoke the language of the Gods. They made strange (paintings?) on the rocks. They
angered the Earth Spirits so much that they left for the skies when the Earth Spirits
shook the lands and swallowed up all the waters."
There are many other strange native references to ancients, their
crafts, and their activities throughout the Kgu'lu'lu lands - and of what became of them
including those “who came from over the waters wearing yellow stones from their ears
and around their neck” (a reference to the strange Dha’kgulu clan from the
Double Island Point region – claimed to have been massacred for their gold jewellery
by the timber cutters). Stories of great feastings, strange “smoking” rituals
and mysterious ceremonies were commonplace in their ancient folklore.
They also tell of places north, south and west near their territories called:
- Bpai'kgil'ba - The Land of Old Fishermen
- Kga'marung'ba - The Land of the Iguana
- Dharu'kgal - The Land of the Black Cockatoos
- Kgari'mi - The Crossing Place Tragedy
- Kga-Kgar'i - The Land of the Laughing Spirit Bird
- Bpandha-Kguna'dhai - Land of the Yellow Stones
- Kgu'lulu - The Land of the Great Lakes
- Kgung-Nga'bvang - The Land of the Great Water Mother
- Dhak'kin-Kgung'lulu - The Lands of the Rainbow Spirit
- Bpau'ruam'ba - The Lands of the Winds
- Bpanga'bang - The Land of the Giant Water Lily
- Bpirri'nga'ba - The Land of the Ice Spirit
From available localised records, it appears that all members of the
clans north of Noosa were gone in total by c.1885 - the timber cutters, native police and
some landholders had ensured many of the clans went into extinction. There are no known
records of genuine descendents but a short list of last known members for each clan still
exists including dates of their deaths, by whom and from what causes.
© 1998-2006 Brett J. Green - website: Rainbow Spirit Warriors
A FarShores thanks to Brett Green for his generosity in permitting reproduction of the above copyrighted article and to Mick Dale, of The Dhamurian Society, in providing invaluable assistance also. Please visit both these websites for further fascinating information.
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