Gudanji McArthur River snake-totem churinga bullroarer

Source term: Churinga (wooden, bull-roarer-shaped)

A snake winds the full length of the blade, carved among ovals and barred lines under red ochre. Among the Gudanji — Spencer and Gillen’s Gnanji — wooden churinga of this bull-roarer shape were few, and each was prized for its link to a totem; this one belonged to a snake. No spirit was thought to dwell in such an object: a man who owned a snake churinga would rub it constantly with his hand, singing the snake’s Alcheringa history, until he felt a special bond with the thing — and each generation of owners left more virtue in the wood.

In every instance they were regarded as of especial value because of their association with a totem.

Spencer and Gillen, The Northern Tribes of Central Australia (1904), p. 276

Particulars

Object

Fig. 95: an elongated wooden blade, lenticular in section, pierced at one end, carved with a snake winding its full length among ovals and barred lines. Probable museum match Museums Victoria X10852: 'Wooden bullroarer; decorated with dots & incised spiral lines, red ochred', from McArthur River Station.

Function

Prized as a snake-totem churinga, rubbed and sung over by its owner; no sounding use recorded.