In passing, an example of the difficulties that must inevitably be faced by inquirers a few years hence who may seek information first hand may be cited.  The grandfathers of the blacks of Hinchinbrook Island and the islands of Rockingham Bay have been popularly credited with the art of making out-rigger canoes, such as were common a few miles to the north.  One living representative of the race gave me a detailed description of this style of canoe, and pointed out with pride the particular tree whence it was invariably fashioned, by hollowing out a section of the trunk, leaving the ends solid and shaping them.  A different and very buoyant timber, according to him, was used for the out-rigger.  This boy had travelled.  He had seen the canoes further north as well as those of New Guinea, and it was found on investigation that his description of the local craft was quite imaginary.  Captain Philip P. King, who came hither from Sydney in 1818, anchoring at Goold Island, thus describes the canoe of the period—­“Their canoes were not more than five feet long, and generally too small for two people; two small strips of bark five or six inches square serves the darkie’s purpose of paddling and for baling the water out, which they are constantly obliged to do to prevent their canoes from sinking.”  These details are applicable to the canoes of the present day.

As a matter of fact, out-rigger canoes were not known in this locality, though but 20 miles to the north hollowed logs with out-riggers of the stems of banana plants were common.  This fact definitely fixes the point—­geographical and also historical—­at which the advanced ideas of the Papuan in the science of boat-building ceased to influence the tardy Australian.  Ere knowledge of the counterbalance crept further south, the advent of the arbitrary white man brought its progress to a full and final stop.  Fragile single canoes of bark were the only means of navigation here, and not many men in these degenerate days can successfully imitate the work of their fathers.  Owing to disuse, the talent in that direction has almost been lost.  Lost, too, are many of the legends which were wont to be handed down from one generation to another, and forgotten the very names of common objects.  But these investigations do not pretend to depth, nor are they presented in any authoritative manner.  No attempt is made to discuss the Australian aboriginal in general nor from any particular standpoint.  A few side-shows and character sketches, are offered in the attempt to interest and entertain.

In some respects our blacks, said to be among the finest physically in Queensland, and desperately deceitful, are cute and as independent of artificial aids as ever.

TURTLE AND SUCKERS

Generally unprogressive and uninventive, the aboriginals of the coast of North Queensland apply practically the result of the observation of a certain fact in the life-history of a fish in obtaining food.  By them the sucker (remora) is not regarded as an interesting example of a fish which depends largely upon turtle, dugong, sharks and porpoises for locomotion, but as a ready means of effecting the capture of the two first-mentioned animals, always eagerly hunted for their flesh.