Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1919 — STORY OF TURTLE CREATION [ARTICLE]

STORY OF TURTLE CREATION

Australian Blacks Have Romantic Yarn About Origin of Reptile. The Australian blacks have a prettier, more romantic story about the creation of the turtle than that they were just one of the many things God put upon the earth. They say that while Wayambeh. an Australian "tribesman, was roaming the bush, he came across Oolah, th£ Lizard-woman, with three children, digging for yams. He stole. her. and- the- -children and took them to his camp. The other members of the tribe were angry with him, because they had saved a young girl for him to marrv. and told hini they would not help him fight Oolah’s tribe, when it came to get her back. When the savage tribe came to do battle Wayambeh went out to meet them, wearing a shield in front and behind him. When his enemies shot at him he drew his head and limbs in between the shields. He did this three -times, then he realized the enemy was upon him and his only escape was in the river. He threw one shield away and Jumped -In. They waited on the: bank for him to reappear, ready to_ shoot him as soon as his hgnd came above water. To aX’Oid them he turned himself into a ■ turtle, the tribesmen say, and he is in the water to this day. with his shield on his back.- When anyone comes to harm him he draws his head and limbs under his shield.