The Southern Cross was the first Minggah, or spirit tree a huge Yaraan, which was the medium for the translation of the first man who died on earth to the sky.

The white cockatoos which used to roost in this tree when they saw it moving skywards followed it, and are following it still as Mouyi, the pointers.

The other Yaraan trees wailed for the sadness that death brought into the world, weeping tears of blood.

The red gum which crystallises down their trunks is the tears.
Some tribes say it was by a woman's fault that death came into the world.
This legend avers that at first the tribes were meant to live for ever.
The women were told never to go near a certain hollow tree.

The bees made a nest in this tree; the women coveted the honey, but the men forbade them to go near it.