Includes index. Examination of the rumour turned legend that a white woman was kidnapped by Aborigines in the Gipps Land bush during the 1840s. Emphasises the legend's role as a justification for the settlers to go out and clear the land of 'savages'. Explores contemporary concerns about Australian identity and black-white relations. Uses the legend as a case study of settler society colonisation in its treatment of indigenous peoples and its political development. Includes maps, illustrations, notes, bibliography and index. Author has a PhD in English and has published various articles in scholarly journals, including a number on this legend.