Mungoon-Gali facts for kids

Mungoon-Gali is a giant goanna from Yuwaalaraay mythology. This creature was known for its dangerous venomous bite and huge appetite. Stories about Mungoon-Gali come from the Yuwaalaraay people of Australia. In these tales, Mungoon-Gali often caused trouble for the local tribes.

Mungoon-Gali: The Giant Goanna

Mungoon-Gali, sometimes called Mungoongarlee, was a fearsome creature. He was a giant goanna, which is a type of lizard. He would attack people with his venomous bite. He also ate a lot, making him a big threat to the tribes.

How Mungoon-Gali Lost His Venom

One story tells how Mungoon-Gali lost his venom. Long ago, lizards like Mungoon-Gali were venomous, not snakes. The tribes were scared because Mungoon-Gali kept attacking them.

A black snake named Ouyouboolooey decided to help. He offered to steal Mungoon-Gali's hidden poison bag. Ouyouboolooey waited for Mungoon-Gali to finish a big meal. The goanna was full and slow.

Ouyouboolooey then approached Mungoon-Gali. He pretended to know a secret plot against the goanna. He said he would tell Mungoon-Gali the plot. But first, he asked to hold the poison bag for his own safety. Mungoon-Gali really wanted to know the secret plot. So, he took the poison bag from his mouth. He handed it to Ouyouboolooey.

Ouyouboolooey quickly put the bag in his own mouth. Then he ran away. The goanna was still slow from his meal. He could not catch the snake. Ouyouboolooey returned to the tribes. He refused to destroy the poison bag. Instead, he went into the bush. This story explains why snakes are now venomous and lizards are not.

Mungoon-Gali and the Secret Water

Another story about Mungoon-Gali takes place during a big drought. A drought is when there is no rain for a long time. Mungoon-Gali and his tribe of giant goannas lived in the Riverina area. All the other animals were dying of thirst. But the goannas were fine. They drank from a secret water supply. This water was hidden among the mountain rocks.

Kubbitha was a black duck. She was also the youngest wife of Mungoon-Gali. She was determined to find the secret water. One day, she did not dig for roots. Instead, she followed the goannas' tracks. The tracks led her into the mountains.

She reached a high, flat area called a plateau. The heat and tiredness made her rest in a cave. A friendly mountain spirit woke her up. The spirit gave her advice. Kubbitha followed his words. She plunged her yam stick into the very heart of the mountain.

Suddenly, a huge stream of water poured out! This stream ended the long drought. It also formed the Murrumbidgee River. This story shows how important water is. It also shows how one brave act can help many.

Mungoon-Gali Today

In the Yuwaalaraay language, the word mangun.gaali refers to the lace monitor. This shows that the stories of Mungoon-Gali are still connected to real animals today.

See also

• Whowie, a fearsome creature from Australian Aboriginal mythology resembling a giant six-legged goanna