A still from the tv documentary "Jandamarra's War" (Image by EP Independent)
In my readings about Australia I frequently stumbled with this man's name and got quite curious about him.
Jandamarra (or Tjandamurra) was an Australian Indigenous of the Bunuba people who led a guerrilla war against police and European settlers for three years. His hit and run tactics and vanishing tricks became almost mythical. In one famous incident, a police patrol followed him to his hideout at the entrance to Tunnel Creek in the Napier Range, but Jandamarra disappeared mysteriously. It was many years later that it was discovered that Tunnel Creek has a collapsed section that allows entry and egress from the top of the Range.
He was held in awe by other Aboriginal people who believed he was immortal, and that his body was simply a physical manifestation of a spirit that resided in a water soak near Tunnel Creek. It was believed that only an Aborigine with similar mystical powers could kill him. Police chasing Jandamarra were also in awe at his ability to cross the rugged ranges with no effect on his bare feet, despite their boots being cut to shreds by the sharp rocks.
Jandamarra's war did not last long, ending when police recruited Micki, a remarkable Aboriginal trakcer also reputed to possess magical powers, by holding his children hostage. He tracked Jandamarra down and shot him to death at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. The white troopers cut off Jandamarra's head as proof that he was dead and it was preserved and sent to a firearms company in England where it was used as an example of the effectiveness of the companies firearms. The head of another Bunuba was labelled as Jandamarra and put on public display in Perth. His body was buried by his family at the Napier Range where it was placed inside a boab tree.
Jandamarra (or Tjandamurra) was an Australian Indigenous of the Bunuba people who led a guerrilla war against police and European settlers for three years. His hit and run tactics and vanishing tricks became almost mythical. In one famous incident, a police patrol followed him to his hideout at the entrance to Tunnel Creek in the Napier Range, but Jandamarra disappeared mysteriously. It was many years later that it was discovered that Tunnel Creek has a collapsed section that allows entry and egress from the top of the Range.
He was held in awe by other Aboriginal people who believed he was immortal, and that his body was simply a physical manifestation of a spirit that resided in a water soak near Tunnel Creek. It was believed that only an Aborigine with similar mystical powers could kill him. Police chasing Jandamarra were also in awe at his ability to cross the rugged ranges with no effect on his bare feet, despite their boots being cut to shreds by the sharp rocks.
Jandamarra's war did not last long, ending when police recruited Micki, a remarkable Aboriginal trakcer also reputed to possess magical powers, by holding his children hostage. He tracked Jandamarra down and shot him to death at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. The white troopers cut off Jandamarra's head as proof that he was dead and it was preserved and sent to a firearms company in England where it was used as an example of the effectiveness of the companies firearms. The head of another Bunuba was labelled as Jandamarra and put on public display in Perth. His body was buried by his family at the Napier Range where it was placed inside a boab tree.
~Ally
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