17.  These remarks apply to the four tribes which inhabit the territory within the limits mentioned at the commencement of this report—­viz., the peninsula to the northward of the Kennedy River.  These four tribes are not distinguishable from each other in any distinct peculiarity that I can perceive.  They keep each to their own territory, except on the occasion of a grand “corroborie,” when the whole assemble.  They are at present on terms of peace nominally.  Should a safe opportunity of cutting off a straggler offer, I have no doubt it would be taken advantage of.  They are cowardly and treacherous in the extreme.  The “Gudang” tribe, claiming the land from Cape York to Fly Point, at the entrance of Albany Pass, is small in numbers, having, I fancy, been seriously thinned by their neighbours, the “Kororegas,” from the Prince of Wales’ Island, in Torres’ Straits, who frequently come down upon them.  Paida, Mr. M’Gillivray’s ‘kotaiga’ (friend), was not long since killed by them.  The “Goomkoding” tribe, who live on the north-western shore, I have seen little of.  They and the “Gudang” seem to hold most communication with the islanders of ‘Torres’ Straits, the intermixture of the races being evident.  “Kororega” words are used by both these tribes, and the bow and arrow are sometimes seen among them, having been procured from the island.  The “Yadaigan” tribe inhabit the south side of Newcastle Bay and the Kennedy River; the “Undooyamo,” the north side.  These two tribes are more numerous than the two first-mentioned, and appear to be of a more independant race than the others, and gave us much trouble on our first settlement, by continual thefts and otherwise.  The tract of country which they inhabit is nearly covered with the densest scrub and with swamp, into which they took refuge with their booty as soon as any depredation was committed, so as to render it next to impossible for us to pursue them.  These four tribes together do not number in all more than 250 to 300 men.

18.  All these people are much addicted to smoking.  Tobacco is used by them in preference when it can be got.  Before its introduction, or when it was not procurable from Europeans, the leaves of a large spreading tree, a species of ‘Eugenia’, was, and is still used.  These leaves must possess some strong deleterious or narcotic property.  I was for some time puzzled to assign a cause for so many of the natives being scarred by burns.  Nearly every one shows some marks of burning, and some of them are crippled and disfigured by fire in a frightful manner.  They smoke to such excess as to become quite insensible, and in that state they fall into their camp-fires, and receive the injuries mentioned.  The pipe used is a singular instrument for the purpose.  It is a hollow bamboo about 2 1/2 feet long, and as thick as a quart bottle; one of the smoking party fills this in turn with smoke from a funnel-shaped bowl, in which the tobacco is placed by blowing it through a hole at one end of the tube.  When filled it is handed to some one who inhales and swallows as much of the smoke as he can, passing the pipe on to his neighbour.  I have seen a smoker so much affected by one dose as to lie helpless for some minutes afterwards.