The natives told the writer that the milky-way was the smoke of a great chief on the Murrumbidgee, who was roasting mussels there. Thus it is evident they have many traditions of unseen Gods and great chieftains, while the belief of some of these natives is that the milky-way is the canoe of Nepelle floating in the heavens.
Of the flood they seem to have some tradition. They believe that Nurundere’s two wives ran away from him; he pursued them, and met them at Encounter Bay, and there called upon the water to arise and drown them. A terrible flood gathered and swept over the hills, overtaking the fugitives, and his wives were drowned, while he was saved by pulling to high land in his canoe.
Nurundere also lost two of his children but recovered them after a conflict with a blackfellow, whom he killed.
The natives always mention his name with reverence.
The reverend writer’s opinion is that Nurundere is some deified chief. The natives regard thunder as his voice in anger, and the rainbow as the production of his power. It is evident that they look to some creative power; although, in this instance, the more intelligent blacks told the missionary that Nurundere was a chieftain who led the tribes down the Darling to the country they now inhabit, where he appears to have met another tribe and had with them a battle, in which he and his tribes were victorious.
A writer in 1842 says that, about 200 miles from Sydney, they assembled for a corroboree for rain, and described God as a great blackfellow, high up in the clouds, having arms nine miles long, eyes the size of a house, ever in motion. He never sleeps, flashes lightning, and dries up the waterholes as punishment. They have their songs and festivals for dry weather when on journeys, thus indicating a higher state of things.
Every tribe has its ngaitye or tutelary genius or tribal symbol, in the shape of a bird, beast, fish, reptile, insect, or substance.
I hereunto add the names of tribes in Victoria:—
| Tribe. | Locality. | Ngaitye. |
| Welinyeri | Murray River | Black duck and black snake with red belly. |
| Lathinyeri | do. | Black swan, teal, and black snake with grey belly. |
| Wunyakulde | do. | Black duck. |
| Piltinyeri | Lake Alexandrina | Leeches, catfish (native pomery.) |
The Narrinyeri have for their neighbours the Wakanuwan and the Merkani tribes; the latter are cannibals, who steal fat people particularly. If a man has a fat wife, he is particular not to leave her exposed, lest she should be seized; the consequence is that the other tribes confederate against cannibal tribes, and battles are frequent; some 500 to 800 men are mustered on each side.