GHOSTS OF MARIA
ALM No.94, October 2026
POETRY
The Maria Massicar, in 1840, sent shock waves through South Australia, the new colony barely 4 years old.
Many mutilated bodies had been discovered on the wild and isolated Coorong coast.
Just a few miles South of Victor Harbour Whaling station.
Who had committed these gruesome acts? … and why?
Was it revenge by grieving mothers, was it lust for plunder”?
Or simply just lust?
Maria…Maria …On the bottom of the sea…..”do you know your story?”
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….An Elder, from Ngarrindjeri country, Sat quietly….. stocked his pipe, and lit it with a straw.
“I was told story by my father” … “The killing of the white men…. hanging of our blacks”
He paused and relit his pipe……He was there in spirit, in his mind… ……He was dreaming.
I could tell.
A lightning, zig-zag flash …a thunder clap…Birds rose frightened in the sky.
Rain-soaked winds whipped waves to foam……..“Maria ran the rocks”.
Scrambling cross the rugged cliffs … . white men climbed the dunes.
Black eyes saw the helplessness and the fear, of white souls cast ashore.
Offered Fire, food and water…. Offered life…offered more.
Offered guide to trek the Coorong. Whiteman’s town on Northern shore.
But white man eyes were filled with lust… Did not hear the seagulls warning.
“Three months at sea. Dead man’s song ….Rape and kill a black girl “Gin”.
“Tenkinyra” law is swift….”Tenkinyra” law none-forgiven.
With woomera and sharpened spears… A father’s aim was true and straight.
White men’s Lustful eyes, ceased to stare….Black man law complete.
Ghostly whispers. Dead men’s song …A seagull screech for what it saw.
One flew North, to sing the tale…. “Black Justise on the beach”.
The Coorong beach stretched South, for miles and miles it seems.
In 1840, no white men there.
Just sand and dunes, a rotting carcass of a whale.
Governor Gawler spoke sternly….
“Major O’Halloren”….…”do your duty, Find the killers…shoot or hang them, as you will.”
Make it clear …. our Sovereign Queens is just… our Sovering Queen is fair.
Three days on horseback …. blind from dust, flies
Twenty troopers ran the Blacks….. Corralled them in the Dunes.
Tenkinyra Mob…. With eyes of fear…..call their Dreaming Spirit near.
“Will we see the stars again”?
“Dreaming Spirit ….Will we see this morning end”?
Major O’Halloran called his troops.
“The law is mission;”.
For this, our sovereign Queen … I swear, justice will be done.
Two old blokes, with tribal scars, appearance mean as killers,
Were hung at dawn from Shea-Oake tree,
Were left for days….for all to see….Never kill a white man.
But….This is nae the story’s end.
Folks say…
”when moon is full and Red, Blood soaked sand….. has risen.”
And…. If you cup your ears, and listen …. Ghostly cries from small girl Gin… coming from the Dunes.
She is Hiding from those Lustful eyes…Those men who came ashore.
Subscribe to FREE digital flip copy of the Adelaide Magazine printed edition.