ct are now extinct. All the
survivors have come in contact with white races, and their habits and
customs have been altered. Before long the total extinction of these
lower races is to be expected, and there will then be left an enormous
gap between the lower animals and the dominant, aggressive, yellow and
white races which are spreading over the earth and making the lower
races perish before them, as the smaller but more cunning European rat
has exterminated the native brown rat of Australia. In their various
excursions upon the Australian mainland they had no trouble of any
kind with the natives. These were at first suspicious of the doings of
the white men, and their total ignorance of the use of firearms
tempted them to rashness; but a few friendly gifts, and the exercise
of tact in negotiating exchanges with them, made all the encounters
pass off pleasantly. On the other hand, in the Louisiade Archipelago
where the savages were of a higher type, difficulties constantly
occurred. On one occasion, in a bay on the south side of Joannet
Island the party was attacked.

"In the grey of the morning the look-outs reported the approach
of three canoes with about ten men in each. On two or three
persons shewing themselves in the bow of the pinnace, in front of
the rain awning, the natives ceased paddling, as if baulked in
their design of surprising the large boat; but, after a short
consultation, they came alongside in their usual noisy manner.
After a stay of about five minutes only they pushed off to the
galley, and some more sham bartering was attempted, but they had
nothing to give in exchange for the wares they so much coveted.
In a short time the rudeness and overbearing insolence of the
natives had risen to a pitch which left no doubt of their hostile
intentions. The anchor was got up, when some of the blacks seized
the painter, and others, in trying to capsize the boat, brought
the gunwale down to the water's edge, at the same time grappling
with the men to pull them out, and dragging the galley inshore
towards the shoal-water. The bowman, with the anchor in his hand,
was struck on the head with a stone-headed axe. The blow was
repeated, but fortunately took effect only on the wash-streak.
Another of the crew was struck at with a similar weapon, but
warded off the blow, although held fast by one arm, when, just as