Terrence Gaypalani Gurruwiwi story, Part 2

A loose translation follows: He heard that the old people didn't really work on yirdaki in the past like they do today, if someone passed away an instrument would be cut, then used for the ceremony, and after the funeral ritual was over, the instrument would be discarded. If someone else passed away, a new yirdaki would be cut. They didn't keep the instrument like they do today. When an instrument was discarded, it would be thrown into a creek or waterhole, not left on dry land. The reason for this is that if left on land, it would be burnt by a passing bush fire which would affect everyone who had played the instrument, their throat, tongue, and mouth would literally be burnt. Or their teeth would fall out. In the same way, if a cassette tape is constantly rewound and forwarded, people recorded on the cassette like the singer and yirdaki player would be affected. Gaypalani then talks about bark painting. Before he didn't know how to prepare a bark painting or how to paint. His father taught him how to paint and how to use a hair brush.