Umbarra
Umbarra , or King Merriman († 1904 ) was an elder of the Aboriginal tribe of the Djirringanj or Yuin in the Bermagui region on the south coast of New South Wales , Australia .
Although the Aborigines traditionally did not have kings or chiefs, but rather elders, the white colonial power granted the elders the right to wear a king plate . That's why the older ones were nicknamed King.
Life
Umbarra lived on Merriman Island , in the middle of Wallaga Lake , while his people lived on the shores of the lake. His wife was Queen Narelle .
Umbarra is believed to have clairvoyant abilities and that he communicated with a black duck, his moojingarl , which warned him of dangers ahead.
Legends
Numerous legends exist about Umbarra and his moojingarl . One day it prophesied to him that a group of warriors would come to battle from the far south. King Merriman stayed on the island because another man told him that the women and children should be kept in a safe place and hidden in the reeds.
The first to see the arriving warriors warned the king and his men, who fought a bitter battle but lost it. The resisting tribal members had to leave the island.
Legend has it that King Merriman powerfully threw spears and a boomerang that hit the arms and heads of opponents before returning to him. But that was not enough. Then he turned himself into a whirlwind and flew away. It flew over the grim Kiola Aboriginal tribe and their Clever man (clever man) correctly anticipated its presence and that this meant that the Wallaga people would triumph over the other tribe. King Merriman traveled as far as the Shoalhaven tribe to warn them, but the Kiola tribe defeated the invaders and the king, whose strength was exhausted. The king stayed in Shoalhaven for a while and then traveled on.
today
General admission to Merriman Island is prohibited because of its great importance for the Aborigines. It is the first place reported as an Aboriginal site. It is the focus of Aboriginal culture, the island is linked to the story of King Merriman, well known among the Yuin Aborigines of the south coast of New South Wales.
Today the Yuin stay at the Umbarra Cultural Center near the lake and the former Wallaga Lake National Park has merged into Gulaga National Park .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Umbarra |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Elder (elder) of the Djirringanj Aboriginal tribe |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 19th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1904 |