the coast on the look-out for passing vessels, so
that I might immediately be informed by smoke-signals when one was in
sight. Not long after this came an item of news which thrilled me
through and through.

One of the chiefs told me quite casually that at another tribe, some
days' journey away, the chief had TWO WHITE WIVES. They had, he went on
to explain, a skin and hair exactly like my own; but in spite of even
this assurance, after the first shock of amazement I felt confident that
the captives were Malays. The news of their presence among the tribe in
question was a well-known fact all along the coast of King's Sound. My
informant had never actually _seen_ the white women, but he was
absolutely certain of their existence. He added that the captives had
been seized after a fight with some white men, who had come to that coast
in a "big catamaran." However, I decided to go and see for myself what
manner of women they were. The canoe was beached well above the reach of
the tides at Cone Bay, and then, accompanied by Yamba only, I set off
overland on my quest. The region of the encampment towards which I now
directed my steps lies between the Lennard River and the Fitzroy. The
exact spot, as near as I can fix it on the chart, is a place called
Derby, at the head of King's Sound. As we advanced the country became
very rugged and broken, with numerous creeks intersecting it in every
direction. Farther on, however, it developed into a rich, low-lying,
park-like region, with water in abundance. To the north-west appeared
elevated ranges. I came across many fine specimens of the bottle tree.
The blacks encamped at Derby were aware of my coming visit, having had
the news forwarded to them by means of the universal smoke-signals.

The camp described by my informant I found to be a mere collection of
gunyahs, or break-winds, made of boughs, and I at once presented my
"card"--the ubiquite passport stick; which never left me for a moment in
all my wanderings. This stick was sent to the chief, who immediately
manifested tokens of friendship towards me.

Unfortunately, however, he spoke an entirely different dialect from
Yamba's; but by means of the sign language I explained to him that I
wished to stay with him for a few "sleeps" (hand held to the side of the
head, with fingers for numbers), and partake of his hospitality. To this
he readily consented.

Now, I knew enough of the customs of the blacks to realis