The curse of Uluru

Australian authorities in charge of Uluru, or Ayers Rock, say they have been inundated with packages containing earth and rocks; sent back to them by tourists claiming to have been experiencing bad luck since they took them. According to The Independent, some of the packages are being sent from as far away as the United States and Europe, with the heaviest weighing as much as 20 kilograms. The newspaper quotes one British tourist, who reportedly wrote: “Things were good in my life before I took some of Ayers Rock home with me, but since then my wife has had a stroke and things have worked out terribly for my children; we have had nothing but bad luck.” The newspaper reports that park managers are now using these stories to prevent more tourists from taking away souvenirs; an exhibition outside the Uluru cultural centre displays returned items along with tales about such things as divorces and kidney failures.