Ages ago, many of the beautiful birds and timid animals now living in the bush were men. One day a crow and a hawk hunted together in the bush. After travelling together for some time, they made up their minds to go different ways, and at the end of the day to meet again, and to share whatever game they had caught. The crow went west, and at midday he arrived at a big lagoon where wild ducks were often found. The crow hid in the tall green reeds on the edge of the lagoon and thought of a plan to catch the ducks.
First he got some soft white clay, then placed two pieces in his nostrils. He then took a long pieceof hollow reed, through which he could breathe under water, and lastly around his waist tied a net bag in which to place the ducks.
The ducks, with their feathers glistening in the sun, were swimming among the reeds, and every now and then would dive down into the water for a tasty morsel hidden deep in the water weeds.
The crow place d the re e d in his mouth, and without making any sound waded into the water. He sank down under the water, and a piece of dry reed through which the crow was breathing could be seen just above the surface of the water. He walked on until he reached the middle of the water-hole. He stayed perfectly still. He did not have to wait long for the ducks to swim above his head. Then, without making a sound, he seized one by the leg, pulled it under the water, killed it, and put it in the net bag. In a short time he had caught a number of ducks. He then left the lagoon and walked on until he came to a river. The crow was so pleased with catching the ducks that he made up his mind to spear some fish before he went back to the camp. He left the bag of ducks on the banks of the river, and taking his fish-spear he waded into the river until the water reached his waist. Thenhe stood very still, with the spear in his hand ready for throwing. A short distance away from where he was standing he saw a little ripple. His quick eye noticed a fish, and quickly he threw the spear, which struck a big fish. There were many fish about, and the crow speared quite a number of them.
He picked up his bag of ducks, and with his heavy load he turned his face towards home.
The hawk had no luck in his hunting. He went after a kangaroo for many miles, then lost it in thick hilly country. He then made up his mind to try for some fish in the river, but the crow had made the water muddy and had frightened the fish away, so he had no luck there.
At last he thought he would go back to the gunyah, and see if the crow had any food. He found that the crow had been there before him, and had prepared and eaten his evening meal. The crow had left nothing for him.
The hawk was angry, and said to the crow, "I see you have had a good hunt to-day. I walked many miles and could not catch even a lizard. I am tired and would be glad to have my share of the food, as we agreed this morning. ""You are too lazy, " replied the crow. "You must haveslept in the sun instead of hunting for food. Anyhow, I"ve eaten mine, and cannotgive you any. "This made the hawk very angry, and he sprang at the crow. For a long time they struggled around the dying camp-fire, until the hawk seized the crow and rolled him in the black ashes.When the crow recovered from the fight, he found he could not wash the ashes off, and since that time the crows have always been black. The crow was also punished for hiding the food that he could not eat. He lives now on the bad flesh of animals.
-W. E. Thomas
About the Author.-W. E. Thomas is a Melbourne writer who collected stories about, the blacks.
About the Story.-It was and is the custom with many savage tribes to call the tribe after a certain animal or class of animals. This animal is the totem of the tribe, and is held sacred. The crow in the story used a hunting trick practised by the blacks. Why was the hawk angry? Describe a gunyah. Draw one. Tell the story as the hawk would tell it.
