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Marrchila (Saltwater crocdile)

Marrchila, ana-munya gu-nirra, gu-bugula a-waywunga a-boya, lika guna-gepiya, a-warrchinga a-rracha a-yurra. Nipa a-weya a-workiya, a-yinaga, “Garr-rru.”

The crocodile swims around at night, then after sunrise it climbs up out of the water and lies in the sun getting warm. It always makes a sound, it goes “Garr-rru.”

 

An-guna mernda a-jirra Gupanga. Ana-mernda a-bawuna, gojilapa Murlulu marrchila a-yurra rrapa gu-gapala.

This is the river at Gupanga. The crocodile came up out of the river and is lying on the island and at Murlulu.

 

Michpa jal nyi-ni ny-boy barra galang, ny-jarlapiya barra ny-boy, marrchila nula. Galaypa bi-barda.

 

If you want to go fishing, you should take care of yourself as you go, because of crocodiles. Otherwise, one might bite you.

Rrapa nyina barra ny-boy bugula gochila gu-jirra, o gun-nga gu-waywa barra gu-bamba, gun-gora. Nyi-na barra lorr, waygiji gun-nerranga nipa galaypa a-waywin a-bambun, marrchila.
 

You should always look out to the middle of the water, and at whatever is floating along, it might be harmless. You should look carefully, maybe it’s something else, it might be a crocodile swimming along

Name: Thomas Baru


Language: Burarra (Martay), Yan-nhangu


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Thomas Baru is a young emerging artist from the Warrawarra clan. this clan consist of many strong Burarra-Martay speaking artists such as Clancy Baru and Marcus Pascoe.

His paintings relate to the country called Gamurra Gu-yurra which lies between Maningrida and Ramingining in central Arnhem Land. Common totemic features depicted by this clan are Warraburnburn (a Wangarra or Ghost spirit), Gorraporda (darter), Marrchila/Baru (the saltwater crocodile) and ngokngok (Southern Boobook owl)


© the artist / art centre