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Updated: June 2, 2025
The term for the being called 'The All Father' by Mr. Howitt is also the term used by the Wir djuri and Kamilaroi, 'Baiame' or 'Byamee. The Euahlayi, however, possess myths, beliefs, and usages not recorded as extant among the Kamilaroi, but rather forming a link with the ideas of peoples dwelling much further west, such as the tribes, on Lake Eyre, and the southernmost Arunta of the centre.
Howitt holds, from Europeans, or developed out of ancestor-worship, which does not exist in the tribes. Howitt thinks, into what he speaks of as a 'religion, a 'recognised religion. Without asking how 'a recognised religion' is to be defined, I shall merely tell what I have gathered as to the belief in Byamee among the Euahlayi.
And as the Mahthi opened their mouths, and tried to laugh and speak derisive words, they found, even as Byamee said, so were they. They could but bark and howl; the powers of speech and laughter had they lost. And as they realised their loss, into their eyes came a look of yearning and dumb entreaty which will be seen in the eyes of their descendants for ever.
He went away into the bush, where he has been a dreaded devil ever since; for if he touches a man's shadow even, that man will itch all over and nothing can cure him of it. He haunts Boorah grounds. Next Byamee made a stone bull roarer sort of thing, but this was too heavy to make the noise he wanted.
There the Gayandi swung, making a whirring noise. 'What's that? said the women. 'We'll have a look what it is. Seeing Byamee they said, 'We heard voices in that big tree over there. 'Whereabouts? he said. 'In that Coolabah tree. Such strange voices, such as we never heard. 'You two go' he said, 'to our camp and make a fire. I'll go and see what it is.
Certainly woman is given a high place in their sacred lore. The chief wife of Byamee, Birrahgnooloo, is claimed as the mother of all, for she, like him, had a totem for each part of her body; no one totem can claim her, but all do.
The reason of this must surely be that the tribes fell away from the Boorah rites, and in his wrath Byamee stirred from his crystal seat in Bullimah.
A feeling of wonder and awe fell on the various camps as they watched Byamce march back to his tribe. When Byamee was seated again in his camp, he asked the women why they were not grinding doonburr. And the women said: "Gone are our dayoorls, and we know not where." "You lie," said Byamee. "You have lent them to the Dummerh, who came so often to borrow, though I bade you not lend."
Mother of all, though mother of none in particular, she was not to be vulgarised by ordinary domestic relations, For those purposes Cunnumbeillee was at hand, as a bearer of children and a caterer. Yet it was Birrahgnooloo whom Byamee best loved and made his companion, giving her power and position which no other held.
Through this passage they went, taking all the water from the spring with them into the Narran, whose course they also dried as they went along. Meantime Byamee, unwitting the fate of his wives, was honey hunting. He had followed the bee with the white feather on it for some distance; then the bee flew on to some budtha flowers, and would move no further.
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