PastMasters

There is a place on Howard Island In NE Arnhem called Marege Sikki by the Macassans. It’s on Gupapuyngu land and it means danger. The trepangers knew that if they landed there they would be speared. And yet at nearby Elcho Island the Macassans had a major presence and a long history of interaction with the Yolngu. Howard island is the setting for a famous myth that Yolngu students learn in their classrooms. It goes like this: At the beginning of time, the Macassans arrived and were met on the beach by a curious dingo. The Macassan offered the dog matches, but the dog said that he preferred his own method, even though rubbing sticks together took longer. The visitor offered him rice, but the dog said he preferred the food of the bush, which was plentiful. The Macassan then offered to build a house for the dog and lift him up off the ground, but the dog preferred the long grass. The Macassan was now angry, saying, ‘Why do you reject my gifts? You could have everything that I have!’ But the dingo replied ‘if I had all these things then I would be the Macassan and you would be the Yolngu.’ And with that, the groups parted, never again to interact.

This object made of plaster was recently found on the mudflats at Doctors Gully. It is roughly 8 cm wide with traces of red and yellow paint and most closely resembles a diya, an Indian oil lamp. We are somewhat stumped by how such an object ended up here.