batch.motif.indigenous-australian-australian-legendary-tales-parker-gutenberg-l1656-l1739
---
record_id: batch.motif.indigenous-australian-australian-legendary-tales-parker-gutenberg-l1656-l1739
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
passage_locator:
label: CONTENTS / PREFACE / INTRODUCTION / ANDREW LANG.; lines 1656-1739
start: '1656'
end: '1739'
translation: 'Australian Legendary Tales: folk-lore of the Noongahburrahs as told
to the Piccaninnies'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Narahdarn drives the second Bilber sister up a gunnyanny tree, cuts off
her trapped arm, and she dies as her sister did. He returns to camp bloodied and
refuses to tell the mother of the Bilbers where her daughters are. The chief sends
young men to follow Narahdarn's tracks; they confirm the Bilbers' fate. At a night
corrobboree, dancers maneuver Narahdarn toward a large fire, seize him, and throw
him into it, where he dies. The next tale begins by introducing Mullyan the eagle
hawk, living high in a yaraan tree with his wife Moodai, his mother-in-law Moodai,
and Buttergah.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Narahdarn brandishes his boondi and drives a woman up a gunnyanny tree.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The woman's arm becomes stuck beside her sister's arm in the tree.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Narahdarn follows the woman up the tree and cuts off her arm when he cannot
pull it free.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The woman dies after her arm is cut off, and Narahdarn carries her body down
beside her sister's body.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: Narahdarn returns to camp without honey, with blood on his arms and a fierce
appearance.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: The mother of the Bilbers questions Narahdarn about her daughters, but he
refuses to answer directly.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The chief says young men will follow Narahdarn's fresh tracks and that Narahdarn
will be punished if he killed the daughters.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Young men follow the tracks and return with news of the Bilbers' fate.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: At night a corrobboree is held, with women chanting and keeping time with
boomerangs and opossum rugs.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Large fires are lit near the scrub while painted dancers with waywahs, feathers,
and wands move into the cleared space.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Dancers edge Narahdarn toward the largest fire, then men seize him and throw
him into the fire, where he dies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: The following section begins by introducing Mullyan the eagle hawk living
high in a yaraan tree with his wife, mother-in-law, and Buttergah.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Narahdarn
description: Called Narahdarn the bat; husband of the Bilbers; returns bloodied
and is later killed in the fire.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Second Bilber sister
description: One of Narahdarn's wives; her arm is trapped in the tree and cut off,
and she dies.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: First Bilber sister
description: The sister whose body is already on the ground and whose arm had also
been cut off earlier.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mother of the Bilbers
description: Mother who asks Narahdarn where her daughters are, reports to the tribe,
and cries out during the corrobboree.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Two little sisters of Narahdarn's wives
description: Younger sisters who come out expecting honey and report Narahdarn's
return to their mother.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Chief of the mother's tribe
description: Leader who promises vengeance and orders young men to follow Narahdarn's
tracks.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Young men of the tribe
description: Fleet-footed and keen-eyed men who follow Narahdarn's tracks and return
with news.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Women at the corrobboree
description: Women who sit in a half-circle, chant, and keep time with boomerangs
or rolled opossum rugs.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Men dancers
description: Painted men who dance from the scrub and help maneuver Narahdarn toward
the fire.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Mullyan
description: The eagle hawk who builds a home high in a yaraan tree.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Moodai, wife of Mullyan
description: Opossum wife of Mullyan.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Moodai, mother-in-law of Mullyan
description: Opossum mother-in-law living with Mullyan.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Buttergah
description: Daughter of the Buggoo or flying squirrel tribe; friend of Moodai and
distant cousin to the Moodai tribe.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: killer of wives
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He cuts off the trapped woman's arm, and she dies; the passage also refers
to the sister having been treated the same way.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: murdered sisters
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The passage places both sisters' bodies together and states both were dead
after their arms were cut off.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: bereaved mother and accuser
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: She asks where her daughters are, reports that Narahdarn will not tell her,
and believes he knows their fate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: witnesses to return
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They see Narahdarn return alone, bloodied, and fierce, then tell their mother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: chief authorizing pursuit and punishment
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: He orders young men to follow the tracks and says Narahdarn will be punished
if the daughters fell by his hand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: punished offender
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Narahdarn is seized and thrown into the fire, where he dies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: trackers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: They follow Narahdarn's fresh tracks and return with news of the Bilbers'
fate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: ritual chorus
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: They chant and keep time during the corrobboree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: dancers and executioners
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The men dance, edge Narahdarn toward the fire, confront him, seize him, and
hurl him into the flames.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: tree-dwelling householder
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Mullyan builds himself a home high in a yaraan tree and lives there with
family members and Buttergah.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: wife
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Moodai is identified as Mullyan's wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: mother-in-law
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: A second Moodai is identified as Mullyan's mother-in-law.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:13
label: friend and distant cousin
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Buttergah is identified as friend of Moodai and distant cousin to the Moodai
tribe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: gunnyanny tree
literal_form: tree in which the woman's arm becomes trapped
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: blood on arms
literal_form: Narahdarn's arms covered with blood after returning alone
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: tracks
literal_form: fresh tracks followed by young men before rain or dust can erase them
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: corrobboree fire
literal_form: large fire into which Narahdarn is thrown
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: boondi
literal_form: weapon brandished by Narahdarn
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:6
label: comebo
literal_form: implement driven through the woman's arm
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:7
label: honey and bees' nest
literal_form: honey sought by the sisters; bees' nest Narahdarn says he will chop
out
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:8
label: yaraan tree home
literal_form: high home built by Mullyan in a yaraan tree
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Second sister killed at the tree
summary: Narahdarn forces the second sister up the gunnyanny tree; her arm sticks
beside her sister's, and he cuts it off, after which she dies.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Bloodied return and questioning
summary: Narahdarn returns to camp alone, blood on his arms. The younger sisters
report this, and the mother of the Bilbers questions him, but he refuses to reveal
what happened.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Tracks followed to discover the fate of the Bilbers
summary: The chief promises vengeance and sends young men to follow Narahdarn's
tracks. The young men return with news of the Bilbers' fate.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Corrobboree and fiery punishment
summary: At night, women chant and men dance around fires. Narahdarn is maneuvered
toward the largest fire, seized, and thrown into it, where he dies.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Opening of Mullyangah the Morning Star
summary: The next tale opens with Mullyan the eagle hawk living high in a yaraan
tree with Moodai his wife, Moodai his mother-in-law, and Buttergah.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: sisters killed in parallel manner
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
basis: 'Two sisters are described as victims of the same action: the second sister''s
arm becomes stuck beside her sister''s, and Narahdarn cuts it off as he had done
to the first.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy label is used because the passage centers on two sisters,
but the available passage is the ending of a larger story and does not give the
full sibling-pair structure.
- id: motif:2
label: blood betrays concealed killing
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Narahdarn returns alone with blood on his arms, causing the younger sisters
and the mother of the Bilbers to suspect he knows the daughters' fate despite
his silence.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level motif candidate without an available taxonomy
reference.
- id: motif:3
label: tracking the culprit's path
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The chief instructs young men to follow Narahdarn's fresh tracks before rain
or dust erases them, and they return with news of the Bilbers' fate.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This describes a narrative detection sequence rather than a named taxonomy
motif.
- id: motif:4
label: ritualized vengeance by fire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A night corrobboree is held; dancers maneuver Narahdarn toward a large fire
and throw him into it, explicitly avenging the Bilbers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy has a fire symbol but no directly matching vengeance-by-fire
motif family.
- id: motif:5
label: tree-top dwelling of animal-person household
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The next tale opens with Mullyan the eagle hawk building a home high in a
yaraan tree and living there with kin and a companion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: Only the opening setup of the following tale is included, so the motif
function is not yet clear.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1656-1670
quote_or_summary: Narahdarn drives a woman up a gunnyanny tree; her arm sticks beside
her sister's, he cuts it off with his comebo, and she dies. He carries her body
down and lays it beside her sister's body.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1670-1682
quote_or_summary: Narahdarn returns to camp alone without honey. The wives' two
little sisters see his blood-covered arms and fierce look, and report this to
their mother.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1682-1696
quote_or_summary: The mother of the Bilbers asks Narahdarn where her daughters are.
He tells her to ask Wurranunnah the bee and says Narahdarn the bat knows nothing,
then remains silent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1697-1709
quote_or_summary: The chief tells the mother of the Bilbers that her daughters shall
be avenged if Narahdarn harmed them; young men will follow his fresh tracks and
punishment will follow if he is guilty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1710-1715
quote_or_summary: The mother urges speed before rain or dust erases the tracks;
the swiftest and keenest-eyed young men go out and soon return with news of the
Bilbers' fate.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1716-1721
quote_or_summary: 'That night a corrobboree is held: women sit in a half-circle,
chant monotonously, and keep time with boomerangs or rolled-up opossum rugs.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1722-1731
quote_or_summary: Big fires are lit at the scrub edge; painted dancers with waywahs,
feathers, and painted wands emerge, with Narahdarn at the head, while chanting
and boomerang-clicking intensify.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1731-1736
quote_or_summary: Dancers edge Narahdarn toward the largest fire. At the mother's
cry, men confront and seize him, hurling him into the flames, where he dies; the
Bilbers are avenged.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 1737-1739
quote_or_summary: 'The next section, ''Mullyangah the Morning Star,'' begins: Mullyan
the eagle hawk builds a home high in a yaraan tree and lives with Moodai his wife,
Moodai his mother-in-law, and Buttergah of the Buggoo or flying squirrel tribe.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/indigenous-australian/project-gutenberg/australian-legendary-tales-parker.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for concise extraction.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage straddles the end of one tale and the beginning of another. Extraction
is strongest for the vengeance episode; the opening of the next tale is included
only as setup, so motif assignment there is tentative. No comparison claims are
made because the passage itself does not support cross-text comparison.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the provided passage and metadata. Taxonomy references are limited to provided refs where directly supportable.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:indigenous-australian-australian-legendary-tales-parker-gutenberg__l1656-l1739
passage_sha256=f0b044bd1dc70c871f35dee5dc96b70c6620c15dd0468d0fa39df9b491ff4465