The Fragrant Power of Dutjahn
It is a place of undulating sand dunes, rocky gibber plains and marble gum woodlands, sprinkled with rock pools majestic in tranquillity. Reptiles of unparalleled character, like the thorny devil and perentie, reside in this vast arid terrain, as do mammals both large and small from red kangaroos to bilbies. It’s a mecca for avian enthusiasts, being home to rare and unique birdlife like the spinifex pigeon and the elusive night parrot.
This is central Western Australia. It’s where the Great Sandy Desert meets the Gibson and the Great Victoria Deserts. It’s the lands of the Martu and Wongi people who have lived here and cared for the country for more than 60,000 years. It is also the lands of a unique species of sandalwood known as Santalum spicatum, or Dutjahn to the Martu and Wongi people.
To read more of Angie Faye Martin’s beautiful and immersive piece in the September edition of Garland Magazine dedicated to smell, click here.
