a-pa-pa

The whirlwind, which used to be feared because it was believed, especially by Arrernte women, that spirit children traveled in them, and that if they should happen to be caught in one, the spirit children would enter their bodies. Thus they would take good care to avoid even the smallest a-pa-pa.

A similar belief was found in the Kaitish and Unmatjera tribes. Among the Warramunga they are called oaranjeringa, and it was believed that an unfriendly spirit — an oruntja — travels about in them.

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