Bootoolgah the Crane and Goonur the Kangaroo Rat, the Fire Makers

In the days when Bootoolgah, the crane, married Goonur, the kangaroo rat, there was no fire in their country. They had to eat their food raw or just dry it in the sun. One day when Bootoolgah was rubbing two pieces of wood together, he saw a faint spark sent forth and then a slight smoke. "Look," he said to Goonur, "see what comes when I rub these pieces of wood together--smoke! Would it not be good if we could make fire for ourselves with which to cook our food, so as not to have to wait for the sun to dry it?"

鶴のブートゥルガーが、カンガルーネズミのグーヌルを娶ったころ、その国にはまだ火が無かった。食べ物は生のまま食べるか、日に干すだけだった。ある日、ブートゥルガーが二本の木をこすり合わせていると、かすかな火花が飛び、それから薄い煙が立つのが見えた。「ごらん」とブートゥルガーはグーヌルに言った。「この木をこすり合わせると何が出るか見てくれ——煙だ! 自分たちで火をおこして食べ物を煮られたら、日が乾かすのを待たなくて済むのに。どんなにいいだろう。」

Goonur looked, and, seeing the smoke, she said: "Great indeed would be the day when we could make fire. Split your stick, Bootoolgah, and place in the opening bark and grass that even one spark may kindle a light." And hearing wisdom in her words, even as she said Bootoolgah did. And lo! after much rubbing, from the opening came a small flame. For as Goonur had said it would, the spark lit the grass, the bark smouldered and smoked, and so Bootoolgah the crane, and Goonur the kangaroo rat, discovered the art of fire making.

グーヌルは見て、煙に気づくと言った。「火をおこせるようになったら、それは本当に大した日になるでしょう。ブートゥルガー、棒に割れ目を入れて、その口に樹皮と草を差し込みなさい。火花がひとつでも灯りをつけられるように。」その言葉に道理があると聞き取って、ブートゥルガーは言われたとおりにした。すると、なんと! さんざんこすったあとで、その割れ目から小さな炎が出た。グーヌルの言ったとおり、火花が草に燃え移り、樹皮はくすぶって煙を上げた。こうして鶴のブートゥルガーと、カンガルーネズミのグーヌルは、火をおこす術を見つけ出したのである。

"This we will keep secret," they said, "from all the tribes. When we make a fire to cook our fish we will go into a Bingahwingul scrub. There we will make a fire and cook our food in secret. We will hide our firesticks in the openmouthed seeds of the Bingahwinguls; one firestick we will carry always hidden in our comebee."

「これはどの一族にも秘密にしておこう」と二人は言った。「魚を焼く火をおこすときは、ビンガーウィングルの茂みへ入って行こう。そこで火をおこして、こっそり煮炊きするのだ。火種はビンガーウィングルの口の開いた実の中に隠しておこう。火種の一本は、いつもコンビーに隠して持ち歩こう。」

Bootoolgah and Goonur cooked the next fish they caught, and found it very good. When they went back to the camp they took some of their cooked fish with them. The blacks noticed it looked quite different from the usual sun-dried fish, so they asked: "What did you to that fish?"

ブートゥルガーとグーヌルは、次に捕った魚を焼いてみて、たいそううまいと分かった。野営地に戻るとき、焼いた魚をいくらか持って帰った。人々はそれが、いつもの日干しの魚とはまるで違って見えるのに気づき、こう尋ねた。「その魚に何をした?」

"Let it lie in the sun," said they.

「日なたに置いたのさ」と二人は言った。

"Not so," said the others.

「そんなはずはない」とほかの者たちは言った。

But that the fish was sun-dried Bootoolgah and Goonur persisted. Day by day passed, and after catching their fish, these two always disappeared, returning with their food looking quite different from that of the others. At last, being unable to extract any information from them, it was determined by the tribe to watch them. Boolooral, the night owl, and Quarrian, the parrot, were appointed to follow the two when they disappeared, to watch where they went, and find out what they did. Accordingly, after the next fish were caught, when Bootoolgah and Goonur gathered up their share and started for the bush, Boolooral and Quarrian followed on their tracks. They saw them disappear into a Bingahwingul scrub, where they lost sight of them. Seeing a high tree on the edge of the scrub, they climbed up it, and from there they saw all that was to be seen. They saw Bootoolgah and Goonur throw down their load of fish, open their comebee and take from it a stick, which stick, when they had blown upon it, they laid in the midst of a heap of leaves and twigs, and at once from this heap they saw a flame leap, which flame the fire makers fed with bigger sticks. Then, as the flame died down, they saw the two place their fish in the ashes that remained from the burnt sticks. Then back to the camp of their tribes went Boolooral and Quarrian, back with the news of their discovery. Great was the talk amongst the blacks, and many the queries as to how to get possession of the comebee with the fire stick in it, when next Bootoolgah and Goonur came into the camp. It was at length decided to hold a corrobboree, and it was to be one on a scale not often seen, probably never before by the young of the tribes. The grey beards proposed to so astonish Bootoolgah and Goonur as to make them forget to guard their precious comebee. As soon as they were intent on the corrobboree and off guard, some one was to seize the comebee, steal the firestick and start fires for the good of all. Most of them had tasted the cooked fish brought into the camp by the fire makers and, having found it good, hungered for it. Beeargah, the hawk, was told to feign sickness, to tie up his head, and to lie down near wherever the two sat to watch the corrobboree. Lying near them, he was to watch them all the time, and when they were laughing and unthinking of anything but the spectacle before them, he was to steal the comebee. Having arranged their plan of action, they all prepared for a big corrobboree. They sent word to all the surrounding tribes, asking them to attend, especially they begged the Bralgahs to come, as they were celebrated for their wonderful dancing, which was so wonderful as to be most likely to absorb the attention of the firemakers.

けれどもブートゥルガーとグーヌルは、日に干しただけだと言い張った。日が過ぎ、この二人は魚を捕ったあといつも姿を消し、ほかの者とはまるで違って見える食べ物を持って帰って来た。とうとう二人からは何も聞き出せないので、一族は二人を見張ることに決めた。アオバズクのブールーラルと、オウムのクォリアンが、二人が姿を消したときに跡をつけ、どこへ行き何をするかを突き止める役に選ばれた。そこで次に魚が捕れたとき、ブートゥルガーとグーヌルが自分たちの分を取って藪へ向かうと、ブールーラルとクォリアンは跡をつけた。二人がビンガーウィングルの茂みへ消えるのを見たが、そこで見失った。茂みの端に高い木があるのを見て、それに登ると、そこから見えるものはすべて見えた。ブートゥルガーとグーヌルが魚の荷を下ろし、コンビーを開けて一本の棒を取り出すのが見えた。その棒に息を吹きかけてから、葉と小枝の山の真ん中に置くと、たちまちその山から炎が立ち上がり、火をおこす二人はそれに大きな枝をくべて育てた。それから炎が弱まると、二人が焼けた枝の残した灰の中に魚を入れるのが見えた。そこでブールーラルとクォリアンは一族の野営地へ帰り、見てきた知らせを持ち帰った。人々のあいだで大変な話し合いになり、次にブートゥルガーとグーヌルが野営地へ来たとき、火種の入ったコンビーをどうやって手に入れるかで、さまざまな問いが出た。とうとうコロボリー(踊りの集まり)を開くことに決まり、それは滅多に見られない、おそらく若い者たちがまだ見たことのないほどの規模のものにすることになった。年長者たちは、ブートゥルガーとグーヌルを驚かせて、大事なコンビーの守りを忘れさせようと考えた。二人が踊りに夢中になって気を抜いたら、誰かがコンビーを取り上げ、火種を盗み、みなのために火をおこす手はずである。ほとんどの者は、火をおこす二人が野営地へ持ち込んだ焼いた魚を味わったことがあり、うまいと知って、それに飢えていた。鷹のビーアーガーは病のふりをし、頭を布で縛って、二人が踊りを見物するそのすぐそばに寝ているよう言われた。そばに寝て、ずっと二人を見張り、二人が笑い、目の前の見ものしか頭に無くなったとき、コンビーを盗むのである。手はずを整えると、みなは大きなコロボリーの支度にかかった。まわりの一族という一族に使いを出して招き、とりわけブラルガーたちには来てくれと頼んだ。その見事な踊りで名高く、火をおこす二人の目を奪うには何より確かだったからである。

All the tribes agreed to come, and soon all were engaged in great preparations. Each determined to outdo the other in the quaintness and brightness of their painting for the corrobboree. Each tribe as they arrived gained great applause; never before had the young people seen so much diversity in colouring and design. Beeleer, the Black Cockatoo tribe, came with bright splashes of orange-red on their black skins. The Pelicans came as a contrast, almost pure white, only a touch here and there of their black skin showing where the white paint had rubbed off. The Black Divers came in their black skins, but these polished to shine like satin. Then came the Millears, the beauties of the Kangaroo Rat family, who had their home on the morillas. After them came the Buckandeer or Native Cat tribe, painted in dull colours, but in all sorts of patterns. Mairas or Paddymelons came too in haste to take part in the great corrobboree. After them, walking slowly, came the Bralgahs, looking tall and dignified as they held up their red heads, painted so in contrast to their French-grey bodies, which they deemed too dull a colour, unbrightened, for such a gay occasion. Amongst the many tribes there, too numerous to mention, were the rose and grey painted Galabs, the green and crimson painted Billai; most brilliant were they with their bodies grass green and their sides bright crimson, so afterwards gaining them the name of crimson wings. The bright little Gidgereegahs came too.

どの一族も来ると承知し、まもなくみなが大変な支度にかかった。それぞれがコロボリーのための彩りの奇抜さと鮮やかさで、他を抜こうと心を決めていた。どの一族も、着くたびに大きな喝采を浴びた。若い者たちは、これほどさまざまな色と意匠をかつて見たことがなかった。クロオウムの一族ビーリールは、黒い肌に鮮やかな橙赤の斑を散らして来た。ペリカンたちはその対をなして、ほとんど真っ白で、白の塗りが剥げたところにだけ黒い肌がのぞいていた。クロカイツブリたちは黒い肌のままで来たが、繻子のように光るまで磨き上げていた。それからミレアーたち、モリラに住むカンガルーネズミの一族の美しい者たちが来た。そのあとにバッカンディア、すなわちフクロネコの一族が、くすんだ色ながらありとあらゆる模様に塗って来た。パディメロンのマイラーたちも、大コロボリーに加わろうと急いで来た。そのあとをゆっくり歩いて来たのがブラルガーたちで、赤く塗った頭を高く掲げ、背が高く堂々として見えた。灰青の体は、こんな華やかな日には地味すぎると思ったので、その対比に赤く塗ったのである。そこに集まった数えきれない一族のなかには、薔薇色と灰色に塗ったガラーたちや、緑と深紅に塗ったビライたちもいた。体は草の緑、脇腹は鮮やかな深紅で、たいそう目を引き、のちに緋の翼という名を得たのである。輝くような小さなギジェリーガーたちも来た。

Great was the gathering that Bootoolgah, the crane, and Goonur, the kangaroo rat, found assembled as they hurried on to the scene. Bootoolgah had warned Goonur that they must only be spectators, and take no active part in the corrobboree, as they had to guard their combee. Obedient to his advice, Goonur seated herself beside him and slung the comebee over her arm. Bootoolgah warned her to be careful and not forget she had it. But as the corrobboree went on, so absorbed did she become that she forgot the comebee, which slipped from her arm. Happily, Bootoolgah saw it do so, replaced it, and bade her take heed, so baulking Beeargah, who had been about to seize it, for his vigilance was unceasing, and, deeming him sick almost unto death, the two whom lie was watching took no heed of him. Back he crouched, moaning as he turned, but keeping ever an eye on Goonur. And soon was he rewarded. Now came the turn of the Bralgahs to dance, and every eye but that of the watchful one was fixed on them as slowly they came into the ring. First they advanced, bowed and retired, then they repeated what they had done before, and again, each time getting faster and faster in their movements, changing their bows into pirouettes, craning their long necks and making such antics as they went through the figures of their dance, and replacing their dignity with such grotesqueness, as to make their large audience shake with laughter, they themselves keeping throughout all their grotesque measures a solemn air, which only seemed to heighten the effect of their antics.

鶴のブートゥルガーと、カンガルーネズミのグーヌルが急いで現れたとき、そこには大変な集まりができていた。ブートゥルガーはグーヌルに、自分たちは見物に徹して踊りには加わってはならぬ、コンビーを守らねばならぬから、と言い聞かせてあった。その言いつけに従って、グーヌルはブートゥルガーのかたわらに腰を下ろし、コンビーを腕に掛けた。ブートゥルガーは、気をつけろ、持っていることを忘れるなと念を押した。けれどもコロボリーが進むにつれ、グーヌルはすっかり夢中になってコンビーのことを忘れ、それが腕から滑り落ちた。幸いブートゥルガーがそれを見て掛け直し、気をつけろと言った。それでビーアーガーの出端がくじかれた。ビーアーガーはまさに掴もうとしていたのである。その見張りは絶え間なかったが、見張られている二人は、この男が死ぬほど病んでいると思い込んで、まるで気に留めていなかった。ビーアーガーは身を伏せ、寝返りを打ちながらうめきつつ、グーヌルから片時も目を離さなかった。そしてまもなく報いを得た。いよいよブラルガーたちの踊る番が来て、あの用心深い一人を除くすべての目が、ゆっくり輪に入って来る彼らに注がれた。まず進み出て、お辞儀をして退く。それを繰り返し、また繰り返すたびに動きは速くなり、お辞儀は回転に変わり、長い首を伸ばし、踊りの型を通しながら珍妙な仕草をしてみせた。威厳を滑稽さに置き換え、大勢の見物を笑いに震わせながら、当人たちはその珍妙な所作のあいだじゅう厳かな顔つきを崩さず、それがかえって効き目を高めるのだった。

And now came the chance of Beeargah the hawk. In the excitement of the moment Goonur forgot the comebee, as did Bootoolgah. They joined in the mirthful applause of the crowd, and Goonur threw herself back helpless with laughter. As she did so the comebee slipped from her arm. Then up jumped the sick man from behind her, seized the comebee with his combo, cut it open, snatched forth the firestick, set fire to the heap of grass ready near where he had lain, and all before the two realised their loss. When they discovered the precious comebee was gone, up jumped Bootoolgah and Goonur. After Beeargah ran Bootoolgah, but Beeargah had a start and was fleeter of foot, so distanced his pursuer quickly. As he ran he fired the grass with the stick he still held. Bootoolgah, finding he could not catch Beeargah, and seeing fires everywhere, retired from the pursuit, feeling it was useless now to try and guard their secret, for it had now become the common property of all the tribes there assembled.

そしていよいよ鷹のビーアーガーの好機が来た。沸き立つその瞬間、グーヌルはコンビーを忘れ、ブートゥルガーも忘れた。二人は人々の笑いの喝采に加わり、グーヌルは笑い崩れて身を反らした。そのときコンビーが腕から滑り落ちた。すると背後から病人が跳ね起き、コンボでコンビーを掴んで切り開き、火種をひったくり、寝ていたすぐそばに用意してあった草の山に火をつけた。二人が失ったことに気づくより先のことだった。大事なコンビーが無いと分かって、ブートゥルガーとグーヌルは跳び上がった。ブートゥルガーはビーアーガーを追ったが、ビーアーガーには出足の分があり、足も速かったので、たちまち追っ手を引き離した。走りながら、まだ手にしている火種で草に火をつけていった。ブートゥルガーは、ビーアーガーを捕まえられないと知り、あたり一面の火を見て、追うのをやめた。いまさら秘密を守ろうとしても無駄だと思ったからである。秘密はもう、そこに集まった一族すべての共有のものになっていた。