Abby - I just dug up my "Souvenir Album" of Marais and Miranda as well. I'm not surprised or particularly alarmed at their folk-processing. Miranda's notes say that the Malay fisherman at the Cape of Good Hope thought the appearance of the Alabama to be "... a mysterious apparition which might bring them rare delicacies...we incorporated that idea into the verse (which was non-existent in the folk-tune 'Dar Kom Die Alibama') and arranged it to reflect a sense of expectation - with an upbeat character."

I am confused by your statement:

Certainly the tune and format & most of the words of this song come straight from HIS very popular "There Comes Oompy Kahly." I'm content to believe that the fishermen just lightly adapted the well-known "Oompy Kahly" when they sighted the Alibama.

Who is "HIS"? Josef Marais was certainly not around in the 1860's to write this tune. I certainly agree that someone composed "Oomphy Kahly" but I don't have a clue who it was.