AustLit
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
Latest Issues
Notes
-
Author's note: Today scientists can explain the causes of lightning. We accept it as a natural phenomenon. Traditional Aboriginal people accepted it too, but like many people today they were cautious of it. There are Dreamtime legends form many areas about lightning and its sometimes terrible effects. The legends vary from place to place, but many of them agree in depicting lightning as an element of rage. This legend is from Arnhem Land, where the lightning has always been given human form. The lightning man was called Wala-Unayua.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 9 Apr 2010 11:51:53