A novel portraying the grim reality of how the Aborigines, the original inhabitants of Australia, were treated during the early days of European settlement. The story digs into the heart of colonialism and the hearts of those involved in this epic period of history. Aborigines, who had occupied the continent for 60,000 years, suddenly found themselves embroiled in a conflict which threatend their very existence. The tragedy, as witnessed by members of the Mossman River tribe of Northern Australia, begins when Europeans arrive in their secluded valley in 1874. It then traces the next 100 years of their struggle for survival and recognition. James, a cedar woodcutter, falls in love with Marku a tribal beauty, and through their story the harshness of colonial rule is exposed. Juran, their mixed-race daughter, continues the fight, battling with a white administration for the rights of indigenous people. This sharply focused narrative gives insight into Australian race relations; the follies of the past and hope for the future.