ore 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.

19. Thus much for the general appearance and habits of the Cape
York natives. A very accurate vocabulary of their language has been
published by Mr. M'Gillivary in his account of the voyage of H.M.S.
Rattlesnake. Of their superstitions I am unable to speak with
certainty. That they have no belief in the existence of a Supreme
Being is, I think, positive. They are, like all the Australian
tribes, averse to travelling about at night if dark; this, I believe,
chiefly arises from the inconvenience and difficulty of moving about
at such times, and not from any superstitious fear. They travel when
there is moonlight. They are true observers of the weather, and
before the approach of a change move their camps so as to obtain a
sheltered position. They do not seem