Mullian

The Eagle-hawk who lived in a giant yaraan tree with his wife Moodai the Possum, his mother-in-law, also named Moodai and a Possum, and Butterga the Flying Squirrel. They were all cannibals. Whenever they were hungry Mullian would climb down from his home, armed with a heavy spear, and hunt for any two-legged man. Leaving the lifeless body impaled on his spear, he would throw it over his shoulder, walk back to the yaraan tree, and run swiftly up the smooth trunk. Once home the women would dismember the body and cook it.

Eventually the people had enough and set fire to the tree. Mullian's arm was burnt off at the shoulder, and the women fell unconscious to the floor. The flames consumed the bodies until there was nothing left on the bare branch but the charred bones of the four canibals.

Strong as he was in death as he had been in life, the spirit of Mullian soared into the sky, taking the soul of his wife Moodai with him. In the sky he took his place as Mullian-ga, the Morning Star. The faint star by his side is his arm, which was separated from his body, and the brighter one is his wife Moodai.

References

Source

  • Reed, A. W. (1965). Myths and Legends of Australia. Sydney: A. H. and A. W. Reed, pp. 79-82.