How The Platypus Was Born
 

 
In the painting can be seen:

Top Right: The young Duckling with feathers about to venture away from her camp.
Middle Top: The Water Rat and the Young Duckling down the Water Rat's hole with the eggs above that were produced when they mated.
Top Right Middle: The Spirit Man, whom the Duck was afraid, named Mulloka.
Top Left: The Young Duck swimming amongst the reeds before she returned the final time before escaping.
Bottom: The two young offspring of the Young duck, which turned out to be the beginning of the Platypus.

 
The Story

Way back in Dreamtime the Ducks lived in a secluded river pond and seldom left their home for fear that the Water Devil named Mulloka would attack them or cause them harm. Amongst the ducks was a young female who was rebellious. Her elders warned her to behave.

One day while all the ducks were busy, she floated quietly into a stream where she was not allowed to go. After waddling for many hours she sat down to enjoy her freedom. Unfortunately, she had chosen for her resting place, the roof of the home of the Water Rat.

Hearing noises above this burrow, the Water Rat, came to investigate and discovered the Young Duck. He was overjoyed, as he had been lonely in his riverside home. He crept up on the Duck and immediately admired her. "I have waited a long time for someone as beautiful as you," said the Water Rat. The Duck, shocked, tried to escape but couldn't. She was dragged into his burrow where he stated she was a prisoner, and if she tried to escape the Water Devil Mulloka would harm her.

Helpless, the Young Duck had no choice but to accept and be the wife of the Water Rat. Many times she tried to escape but couldn't.

One sunny day, when the Duck spent time feeding on the waterweed and insects, she returned to the burrow to find that the Water Rat was sound asleep and snoring. She crept outside and slowly drifted down stream, looking behind her all the way. Eventually she reached her original family, who were excited to see her. She would never stray again.

At that time, it was nest-making time for the laying of the eggs, where the young ducklings hid themselves amongst the reeds. Before long the parents floated out leading their baby ducklings. With them came the Young Duck who had been married to the Water Rat. Behind her swam two children - two little Ducks with Duckbills and webbed feet but alas they had no feathers! Their bodies were covered with the fur of the Water Rat and they had four webbed feet instead of two. On their hind legs were sharp spikes that looked like the spear of the Water Rat.

The poor Young Duck Mother was ridiculed by her friends, and with shame and despair she left the sheltered billabong and made a new home for her babies far away from her friends. Her children grew up and became the first of the "Gay-dari", the tribe of the Platypus.  

Price:  $3,250.00 AUD