In the Aboriginal communities along the southeastern coast of Australia, children grew up hearing about the Yara Ma Tha Who. This eerie figure, also known as Yara Ma Yha Who, was a spectral entity that parents used to warn their children about. Hidden among the wild fig trees, these malevolent beings were said to prey on those who ventured alone into the dense, untamed forests.
The Appearance and Terrifying Abilities of the Yara Ma Tha Who
The Yara Ma Tha Who might not seem intimidating at first glance. Standing no taller than a 10-year-old child and lacking any formidable weaponry, these creatures had a grotesque, yet unsettling, appearance. They possessed oversized heads, spindly limbs, and paunchy bellies, with a mouth capable of swallowing a person whole.
David Unaipon, a renowned Ngarrindjeri writer from South Australia, described these spirit beings in his 1925 writings. According to Unaipon, the Yara Ma Tha Who could gulp down its prey and then regurgitate them, a ritualistic practice that the spirit men had followed since ancient times.
The Unsettling Rituals of the Yara Ma Tha Who
Unaipon’s accounts reveal that the Yara Ma Tha Who had a disturbing method of capturing victims. These beings would silently stalk their prey, much like a cat, and use octopus-like suckers at their fingers and toes to drain blood from the unfortunate individuals. After partially draining the victim, the Yara Ma Tha Who would swallow them headfirst and then dance around until the person was fully inside their belly. The horror of this encounter lay in the fact that the victim, though weakened, would not die immediately. Instead, the Yara Ma Tha Who would lie down to rest, only to later vomit out the victim, who would be forever changed.
The Cultural Significance and Modern Misunderstandings
The Yara Ma Tha Who is more than just a terrifying tale. Emily Zarka, a professor at Arizona State University, notes that this legend reflects traditional Aboriginal knowledge and serves as a cautionary tale. The story advises avoiding the dense forest in favor of safer shelter during harsh weather conditions.
When British colonizers heard of the Yara Ma Tha Who, they compared it to the vampire folklore from their own cultures, leading to a loss of the creature’s original context. The Yara Ma Tha Who, with its deep-rooted ties to Aboriginal lore, was overshadowed by Western depictions of vampires, such as Dracula.
Rediscovery and Preservation of Aboriginal Folklore
David Unaipon’s collected folklore was initially misunderstood and misattributed. In the early 1930s, Scottish doctor William Ramsay Smith published Unaipon’s stories under his own name, altering some details in the process. It wasn’t until 2006 that Unaipon’s original manuscript, Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, was published. This delayed release was seen as a vital step in correcting historical injustices and honoring the true origins of these stories.
As interest in Oceania-inspired horror tales grows, there is a renewed appreciation for the Yara Ma Tha Who and other Aboriginal myths. Writer McKenzie Lynn Tozan emphasizes that this resurgence helps create a more informed understanding of Australian Indigenous culture and lore.
The Yara Ma Tha Who now rests within the pages of modern Australian literature and perhaps still lurks among the wild fig trees of South Australia. If you listen closely, you might hear the eerie call of the spirit man: “Yara Ma, Yara Ma, which way hast thou gone?”
