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EVIDENCE FOR DINOSAURS IN AUSTRALIA Urapunji area, he became lost in the a loud puffing or grunting noise, remote wilderness of that part of certainly loud enough to be coming Arnhem Land. It took him three days from some large animal. When asked to find his way out of the region and if he intended to include this incident back to the homestead from where in his report, the policeman replied he'd originally set out. that he would not because he feared He didn't know it at the time, but his _ that no one would believe him. footprints had been picked up and _ The policeman warned Bryan never followed by two Aboriginal trackers _ to return to that area, because if he got and a mounted policeman. On the lost there again he'd be "on his own": first night of their search they camped _ the police would not come looking for on the outskirts of the Burrunjor him. scrub, even though the two trackers protested strongly against doing so. Aboriginal legend The policeman hobbled his horse, The region's cave art, thousands of cooked their meal and then climbed years old, depicts these monstrous into his swag and went to sleep. animals. Many Aborigines of the Later that night the two Aborigines, Arnhem Land region believe these shouting unintelligibly and grasping monsters wander back and forth for their packs and saddles, suddenly across the Gulf country and Cape woke him up. The policeman realised York to this day. at this moment that the ground Regardless of what outsiders may appeared to be shaking. Hurriedly think of these tales, the locals—both getting to his feet, he, too, gathered up Aborigines and scattered European his belongings. Shortly afterwards, settlers—take them seriously. the three galloped away. Bushman Allan Ritchie, who The policeman told Bryan Clark conducted lapidary rock hunting later at the Urapunji homestead that he safaris to some pretty remote parts of also had heard a sound, somewhat like _ the far north during the 1970s, came to by Rex and Heather Gilroy © 2006, 2008 TALES OF BURRUNJOR he tribespeople of pre-European "Tisai had traditions that described saurian-type reptiles centuries before they ever had access to European textbook illustrations of dinosaurs. Aborigines of Arnhem Land believe that a vast region hereabouts, which they call Burrunjor, is the habitat of a terrifying, nightmarish, mammoth- sized reptilian monster, which they also call Burrunjor and whose description can be said to resemble that of Tyrannosaurus rex. Campfire stories substantiating Aboriginal claims are commonplace across the far north. In 1978, a Northern Territory bushman and explorer, Bryan Clark, related a story of his own about an event that had taken place some years before. While mustering cattle in the Aboriginal legend The region's cave art, thousands of years old, depicts these monstrous animals. Many Aborigines of the Arnhem Land region believe these monsters wander back and forth across the Gulf country and Cape York to this day. Regardless of what outsiders may think of these tales, the locals—both Aborigines and scattered European settlers—take them seriously. Bushman Allan Ritchie, who conducted lapidary rock hunting safaris to some pretty remote parts of the far north during the 1970s, came to NEXUS ¢ 63 DECEMBER 2008 — JANUARY 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com