84 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



soil are favourable, his own " tracks " would be quite sufficient, 

 independently of any sign-posts so to speak, because in a camp 

 each one's footprints are known to all the others. 



The advent of strangers is recognised in other ways. The 

 scrub-blacks on the Tully River certainly regard the screeching of 

 the white cockatoo as warning them of danger. Just previously 

 to one of my visits in this district, some years ago, my host 

 (Mr. E. Brooke) had a personal experience of this kind : — While 

 the natives were rendering him assistance with some fencing, a 

 European stranger suddenly put in an appearance on the edge of 

 the scrub without having been observed coming ; the blacks 

 expressed themselves in their own dialect as follows: — "What 

 was the matter with the cockatoos 1 they never told us anyone 

 was coming." On the other hand, crows, hawks, and perhaps 

 some other birds, will indicate proximity to a camp. 



The camping-ground, however, is usually sufficiently demon- 

 strable by the fires burning, sometimes by the smell of the smoke 

 alone. On more than one occasion my black companions have 

 discovered a camp by the smell and the direction of the wind. 



Beyond the smoke being proof positive of a fire, and so indica- 

 tive of the presence of human agency, I am now satisfied, after 

 repeated enquiry and cross-examination, that the allegation of a 

 method of communication by so-called " smoke signal," is not 

 warranted by the facts. 



Gesture Language. 



Adult man.— ( = E.S. 110), G.B., P.R., Ro., and Pn. R., where, 

 in addition, this ideagram means a father or any old man. 



Bushman, traveller (PI xvii., fig. 1). — The left hand, holding 

 the spear, is raised ; the right arm, holding the wommera, 

 swinging. Pn.R. 



Government tracker, policeman (PI. xvii., figs. 6, 23). — Two 

 ideagrams representing either the peaked cap (i.e., the official 

 uniform), or the military salute. OB. 



Woman, young woman (PL xvii., fig 15). — Hands rubbed up 

 ami down the corresponding breasts, Ro.; or circled round the 

 breasts to indicate their rotundity. Pn.R. 



Mother (PI. xvii., fig. 19). — Either hand placed on cones- 

 ponding breast. Ro. (Compare E.S.I 12). 



Mother — Pulling down the nipple to shew the dependent breast 

 ( = E.S.I 13), Pn.R. At Mornington Island, on suddenly surprising 

 some women at one of the native encampments, they not only 



