Muldjewangk
Also known as: Mulyawonk, Muldjewangk of the Murray
A colossal water creature in Australia's Murray River that punishes anyone who disturbs its territory with a wasting sickness.
Ancient Ngarrindjeri oral tradition
Murray River / Lake Alexandrina, South Australia
Unknown, reported as very large
Territorial, punishes intruders
Folklore
The Lore
The Muldjewangk is a feared water creature from Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal tradition, inhabiting the Murray River and Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. Described variously as a massive humanoid with webbed hands, a giant serpentine body, or something that defies easy classification, it protects sacred waterways. The Ngarrindjeri warn that anyone who sees or disturbs the Muldjewangk will develop a red rash that spreads across the body, leading to sickness and death. European settlers in the 1800s reported encounters with large unidentified creatures in the same waters, and some paddlesteamer captains refused to navigate certain bends after dark.
Notable Witnesses
- Ngarrindjeri elders
- 19th-century paddlesteamer crews
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