Gurrumirringu the mighty hunter

One of the most important parts of the Manarrgu Mortuary Rites Ceremony is concerned with the telling of the story of Gurrumirringu the mighty hunter who was killed by the poisonous snake.  David Malangi owned this story and is the most recognised artist for his representation of it on bark.   Gilkun was also entitled to paint the story and this work collected in 1970 is his interpretation.

The central figure represents a deceased person. The painting tells of how Gurrumirringu died. One day he had an exceptional days hunting, killing a turtle, wallaby, emu and many other small creatures as well as gathering wild yams and fruit. As dusk fell he decided to camp under a tree by a waterhole. He lit a fire cut up the wallaby and started cooking it on the coals. Unfortunately the tree Gurrumirringu settled under was an evil tree. This tree had enticed a venomous brown snake to live at its base. The tree hated Gurrumirringu, and so persuaded the brown snake to slither out of hiding and bite the great hunter on the ankle resulting in instant death.

Gurrumirringu spirit has now become the guardian of the Manarrgu people and the story of his life and cause of his death is re- enacted in dance and song when ever a member of a clan dies.