Burrut’tji | Lightning Snakes

Burrut’tji is the name for Lightning Snakes. There are several Lightning Snakes, belonging to different clans and places, who spit lightning, calling to each other across country. Different Burrut’tji go by different sacred names, but often connect closely related clans. Baraltja is the home of the lightning snake  known as Mundukuḻ. It is an important floodplain that drains into Blue Mud Bay. It is considered to belong to the Maḏarrpa clan, but because one source of its waters is the Dhaḻwaŋu clan estates of Gäṉgaṉ, Baraltja is associated with fertility and the mixing of waters and the special relationship between these two clans. The flushing of freshwater excites Burrut’tji to stand on its tail and spit lightning to the clouds, communicating with other lightning serpents at Gäṉgäṉ, as well as at the Munyuku estate of Mayawunydji and the Maŋgalili estate of Milŋuya. 

At a place called Baraltja, the Lightning Snake spat out to the clouds, creating lightning from the sea. Biliŋurra, Gamburtja, Meŋurr, Dhuŋugal—these are the names representing where the Lightning Snake lives, in the creek at Baraltja. The snake has special names as well, and they are Djulkapuy, Djulkamay, Mikaraŋ and Burrut’tji. We know this because we often speak of this this story, telling of where it spat out to the clouds and created lightning at the places Baraltja, Mälŋay and Lumatj, and also at a place near Gurka’. 

Yes, it spat to the clouds. That is the story.

Yes, that’s what it did. And then it traveled to a place called Mukarrtji and Mayaŋmaku. It journeyed on and laid down the sacred meanings for Bakuḏaynha. I am telling you this because this is how the story is commonly told.

– DJAMBAWA MARAWILI AND NOŊGIRRŊA MARAWILI