Description
This story was told to me in my youth by my grandmother Salu Sabasio:
Before time, four spirit brothers named Malo, Sigai, Kulka and Siu travelled from the seven rivers region of northern Cape York Peninsula (Kei Dowdai), each of them a powerful man, well-versed in magic.
Sigai was the first to depart from the group because his outrigger canoe was not built for the open ocean and the pontoon parted in rough waves.
Pointing his canoe in the direction of Iyam (Yam) island, he raised his arms and jumped into the water, becoming a hammerhead shark and swimming to it. Sigai, second eldest brother became spiritual teacher of warfare.
Kulka was the second brother to go his own way and decided to go to Aurid Island, turning into a trevally fish. Kulka, third eldest brother became a spiritual teacher of hunting.
Siu reached Masic (Yorke Island), turning into a tiger shark. The youngest brother, he became a spiritual teacher of dance.
Malo the oldest brother and strongest leader of them all, travelled furthest to the easternmost island of Mer (Murray Island), turning himself into an octopus. The law of Malu continued right across the eastern, central and one island of the western group, Nagir (Mt Earnest) until the coming of the light in 1877. All the Islands had Zogo le – holy men versed in traditional law. Malu law was severe. Beizam le, literally ‘shark men’ or island police, protected these laws, punishable by severing one’s head, the bottom jaw sent in evidence to Mer Island Beizam le lawmen.
Islands under protection from Malu were Aurid, Erub (Darnley), Mer (Murray), Ugar (Stephen), Masig (Yorke), Tudu (Warrior), Warraber (Sue), Poruma (Coconut) and Nagir (Mt Earnest). To access the eastern islands in relatively calm waters by canoe, one had to pass a security system of small islands, which were well equipped with lookout posts and ‘bu’ conch shell horns. Young men were pressed into service as soon as they grew facial hair and sent to Tudu Island to learn the art of warfare and directed to strategic outposts.
In the landmark Indigenous land rights court case of Eddie (Koiki) Mabo vs the State of Queensland, the law of Malu was applied and Eddie Mabo won.
The Journey of Malu, Sigai, Kulka and Siu was a finalist in the 2015 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
