Bahloo facts for kids

In Gamilaraay Australian Aboriginal mythology, Bahloo is a male spirit who represents the Moon. The most famous story about him explains why people die.

Who is Bahloo?

Bahloo is an important spirit in the stories of the Gamilaraay people. They are an Aboriginal group from New South Wales, Australia. Bahloo is known as the Moon spirit. He is often seen as a wise and powerful figure.

Bahloo and the Origin of Death

One of the most well-known myths about Bahloo explains why humans do not live forever. It also tells why snakes and people often do not get along.

In this story, Bahloo was walking at night with his snakes. He called them his "dogs." He met a group of men near a river. Bahloo asked the men to help him carry his snakes across the water. The men were scared of the snakes and said no.

So, Bahloo carried the snakes himself. He had two snakes wrapped around each arm and one around his neck. He then threw a piece of bark into the river. The bark floated easily. Next, he threw a stone into the water, and it sank to the bottom.

Bahloo told the men that he was like the bark. He would always rise again, just like the Moon reappears every night. But he said the men would be like the stone. When they died, they would sink and not return.

The men had always been afraid of snakes. After this, they began to hate them and would kill them whenever they saw one. Bahloo, in turn, would send more snakes. This was to remind the people that they had not helped him when he asked.

Bahloo and Wahn the Crow

Another legend tells how Bahloo was once a very clever man. He lived with Wahn, who was a Crow, and Buumayamayal, a flycatcher lizard. Together, they helped create new babies for the world.

One day, Wahn asked Bahloo if they could also bring dead people back to life. Bahloo said no to this idea. Wahn became very upset.

Later, Wahn saw a tall gum tree. He asked Bahloo to climb the tree to find some grubs. While Bahloo was in the tree, Wahn breathed on it. This made the gum tree grow taller and taller, reaching into the sky. Bahloo stayed up there. This story explains why the Moon travels across the sky each night.

Bahloo and Yhi the Sun

During his travels across the sky, Bahloo was pursued by Yhi, the Sun spirit. Yhi wanted to be with Bahloo, but he refused her. This myth explains why the Sun seems to chase the Moon across the sky.

Yhi even threatened the spirits who held up the sky. She said that if they let Bahloo escape back to Earth, she would make the world completely dark.

However, sometimes Bahloo is still seen walking on Earth in Gamilaraay myths. He does this by changing his shape to look like the spirit emu. This way, he tricks the sky spirits and can return to Earth. When he is on Earth, he goes back to his job of creating baby girls.