Deutscher and Hackett

Private collection, Melbourne

The typed descriptive label on the reverse reads: ‘THE WAWILUK (sic) CEREMONY. PAINTED BY Dawidi 1960 of Milingimbi. East Arnhem land. NT.

‘THE WAWILUK SISTERS. In the Dreaming Creation time they travelled from South East Arnhem land to the North East, carrying the scared stone spears, digging sticks and clap sticks. They created flora and fauna and named the existing flora and fauna. They brought the age grading ritual called Liy–agaluwirri. Their footsteps led them to a sacred Hirriuia, the great hole where the sacred snake lived, Yulungurr. Here the youngest sister profaned the pool with her menstrual blood. This enraged the snake who rose up from the depths and encircled the sisters camp, causing huge downpour of rain. The sisters could not stop of the rain, then he swallowed them and their children. Later when this was discovered The GREAT boss of the snakes fell from the heavens to earth. Where he fell is now a sacred ceremony ground for the Wawiluk rituals.'