A young woman named Yoonda was growing up in an Aboriginal tribe. All the other girls looked forward to their initiation tasks and ceremonies when they would stop being girls and start being women; but not Yoonda. Yoonda dreaded those days because she knew that her family had promised an old man, Old Yebblegoot, that she would marry him as soon as she was old enough.
Old Yebblegoot was white-haired, old and ugly and he already had two wives.
His first wife – we’ll call her Old Mrs Yebblegoot – was very jealous. She knew that the moment beautiful young Yoonda joined the family, Old Yebblegoot would forget about his other wives entirely.
Old Mrs Yebblegoot tried to think of some way to cause mischief, and she saw her chance one day when a young man from another tribe came to rest in the village in the middle of his travels. Old Mrs Yebblegoot put all her matchmaking skills to the test and introduced Yoonda to the young man, whose name was Boojin.
Yoonda and Boojin didn’t need any encouragement from Old Mrs Yebblegoot. They fell instantly and deeply in love.
But there was nothing they could do about it. Tribal laws are very strict. Yoonda’s parents would never break their promise to Old Yebblegoot. There were severe punishments for that kind of thing. So Yoonda and Boojin were very careful to hide their feelings in front of anybody else.
The day came when Yoonda completed her initiation rites and became a woman. She was ready to marry. Old Yebblegoot had been waiting for that moment so eagerly that he instantly rushed off hunting for the marriage gift of food that he would have to exchange for Yoonda.
The moment he was gone, Old Mrs Yebblegoot called Yoonda and Boojin into her house. “Don’t try to hide it,” she cackled, “I know you two are in love. Don’t worry, you’re safe here. You can show your true feelings.”
As soon as she was satisfied that the pair really were in love, Old Mrs Yebblegoot knew that there would be no wedding for her husband. “Run away!” she told Yoonda and Boojin. “Old Yebblegoot is even now hunting for the marriage gift. If you don’t go now, Yoonda will be married in the morning!”
Boojin and Yoonda didn’t need to be told twice. They made a dash for the bush straight away.
But Old Mrs Yebblegoot wasn’t finished. She knew how clever Old Yebblegoot was – almost as wily and clever as herself. He would work out what had happened, and then she still wouldn’t be his favourite wife and the whole thing would be useless.
So Old Mrs Yebblegoot gave the couple a five minute start, then off she went to find her husband hunting.
Although she had strolled slowly all the way, she arrived panting. “Husband, husband, I’ve run all the way to warn you! Your new bride has run away from you! That imposter, Boojin, who’s not even from our tribe, took her! Follow quickly – they went that way!”
Old Yebblegoot called his men and quickly got on the trail. They were experienced hunters and the young couple hadn’t learned much about covering their tracks. Before long Old Yebblegoot was catching up.
Boojin and Yoonda ran faster and faster, hearing the hunters behind them. They stopped picking through the bush so carefully. Yoonda wasn’t looking where she put her feet, and stepping on a sharp stone, she cut herself so badly that she couldn’t walk.
Boojin picked her up and ran with her in his arms. But now there was a trail of blood behind them, showing clearly which way they had run.
Boojin and Yoonda reached the river and Boojin waded in with Yoonda in his arms. Although she couldn’t walk, she could swim, and the pair struck out for the other shore and crossed the river easily.
Old Yebblegoot and his men, a little way behind, suddenly lost the trail. “Which way did they go?” they asked each other, “and what is this red plant growing in these parts? I’ve never seen this kind of flower before”.
The trail of blood had turned into a flower that still grows in Australia today. It’s called Coral Creeper, and looks just like drops of blood on the floor of the forest.
Old Yebblegoot and his men returned home empty-handed. But Yoonda and Boojin on one side of the river, and Mr and Mrs Yebblegoot on the other side, lived happily for the rest of their lives.