NORTH QUEENSLAND ETHNOGRAPHY — ROTH. 



9 



which ricie the water higher than those on the 

 East Coast,and in the fore and aft-port,ion being 

 hardly distinguishable, the keel sloping away to 

 the stem only a little more gradually at the 

 narrower bows than at the wider stern. Further- 

 more, during the process of sewing up the cut ends, 

 the over-casting commences at about the centre 

 of the cut, the lower and upper portions being 

 next respectively completed. The bark employed is obtained 

 from Eucalyptus letradoiita, F.v.M. (NGGr. arai-i). These canoes 

 are worked with a single paddle (PI. v., fig. ], and 

 fig. 8) held in both hands, and used on one or other 

 side as may be required ; the paddle (NGG. ngamba) 

 is of interest in that it is an example of a 'natural 

 form,' being constituted of tlie spatulate root of 

 Brugiiiera rheedii, Blume (NGG-. tcherda). or Ceriops 

 candolleana, Arn. (NGG. larchanama). The natives 

 are very expert in balancing themselves on these frail 

 structures and can even manage to stand up and throw 

 a spear. The Rev. N. Hey, Superintendent of the 

 Mapoon Aboi'iginal Mission on the Batavia River, has 

 seen one of these canoes tipped over in the open sea^ 

 emptied of the water, and clambered into again by its 

 occupants. When not in use, the vessel may be kept 

 high and dry in the shade, or else left in the water. 

 For tran.sport on land it may be carried on the heads 

 of one or more persons walking Indian-file. 



8a. The names of the different parts of these single- 

 sheet bark canoes on the TuUy and Batavia Ri%ers, as 

 applied by the local Mallanpara and Nggerikudi 



rig. 8. 

 Tribes, 



