shadowcaster
14th August 2009, 03:07 PM
The Aboriginals in a remote part of Northern Australia had a new elder, after the death of the previous one.
It was April, and the Aboriginals asked that new elder if the coming Winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was an elder in a modern community, he had never been taught the old secrets.
When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the Winter was going to be like.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the Winter was indeed going to be cold, and that the members of the tribe should collect firewood to be prepared.
But being a practical leader, after several days he had an idea.
He walked out to the telephone booth on the highway, called the Bureau of Meteorology and asked,
“Is the coming Winter in this area going to be cold?”
The meteorologist replied,
“It looks like this Winter is going to be quite cold.”
So the elder went back to his people, and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later he called the Bureau of Meteorology again.
“Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold Winter?”
The meteorologist again replied,
“Yes, it's going to be a very cold Winter.”
The elder again went back to his community, and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.
Two weeks later, and with temperatures remaining quite mild for the time of year, the elder called the Bureau again.
“Are you absolutely sure that the Winter is going to be very cold?” he asked.
“Fair dinkum mate,” the man replied.
“It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest Winters ever.”
“How can you be so sure?” the elder asked.
The weatherman replied,
“Our satellites have shown that the Abbos in the north are collecting firewood like crazy, and that's always a sure sign of a very cold Winter.”
It was April, and the Aboriginals asked that new elder if the coming Winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was an elder in a modern community, he had never been taught the old secrets.
When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the Winter was going to be like.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the Winter was indeed going to be cold, and that the members of the tribe should collect firewood to be prepared.
But being a practical leader, after several days he had an idea.
He walked out to the telephone booth on the highway, called the Bureau of Meteorology and asked,
“Is the coming Winter in this area going to be cold?”
The meteorologist replied,
“It looks like this Winter is going to be quite cold.”
So the elder went back to his people, and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later he called the Bureau of Meteorology again.
“Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold Winter?”
The meteorologist again replied,
“Yes, it's going to be a very cold Winter.”
The elder again went back to his community, and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.
Two weeks later, and with temperatures remaining quite mild for the time of year, the elder called the Bureau again.
“Are you absolutely sure that the Winter is going to be very cold?” he asked.
“Fair dinkum mate,” the man replied.
“It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest Winters ever.”
“How can you be so sure?” the elder asked.
The weatherman replied,
“Our satellites have shown that the Abbos in the north are collecting firewood like crazy, and that's always a sure sign of a very cold Winter.”