NOKTU IJUEKNSLAND KTHNOGKAPHY — ROTII. 17 



Blanco), ami overcasting witli a split lenj^tli of yurol {Flagellaria 

 indica, Linn), which was also sirnilaily employed for overcasting 

 the two wooden skewers. The bark vessel, as now consti- 

 tuted, was inclined to curl in at the sides with the heat of the 

 sun ; this was counteracted by means of a stick placed cross-wise,^ 

 which was prevented slipping by tying its nicked ends to the 

 under surface of the gunwale. If a small canoe, the cross-piece 

 vv^as fixed at the centre, but if large, one would be placed fore and 

 another aft; both ends of the canoe were similar and indisting- 

 uishable. The vessel was propelled by the individual (male) 

 standing up in the centre and using a long pole, up to ten feet 

 long and a couple of inches diameter ; it was a soi t of punting 

 movement (not touching bottom of course), the pole being used 

 on one side of the vessel alternately with the other according to 

 the course to be steered. Some of these big canoes would carry 

 as many as ten people, but with the larger vessels, one man 

 would usually punt at the bows, and another at the stern ; the 

 passengers always sat low down on their haunches at the bottom 

 of the boat. In the smaller canoes, there might be two or three 

 gins by themselves, especially when they went for short distances, 

 to the little islands for crabs, oysters, and cobbra. In all these 

 vessels there was always a fire kept glowing on some clay at one 

 end, and, in case of leakage, a shell-hailer** or ningam (Melo 

 diadema, Lamk.), and some whitish cla}'^ which, if necessary, 

 would be plugged into the split. Canoes were identical whether 

 intended for tresh or salt water. 



II.— TRADE AND BARTER. 



1. On the Bloomtield River (B. Hislop), the articles of home- 

 production for trade and barter were dilly-bags, spears, wommer- 

 as, edible pipe-clay (within receiit years), best kind of fighting- 

 stick, shields and swords (in the old days), several varieties of 

 gum-cements, and red ochre. These would be bartered for 

 stingaree-spears, shell-ornamentsj yellow ochre, edible pipe-clay 

 (in the old days), shields and swords (in recent times). There 

 were no particular individuals to effect- the exchanae, each one 

 acting on his own behalf, nor were there an}'' restrictions as to 

 which of their neighbours they might l-arler with. The principal 

 time of barter was during the laying-season at King's Lake 

 country, i.e., whenever there happened to be a sufficient supply of 



8 Roth— Bull. 7— Sect. 55. 



9 Roth- Bull. 7— Sect. 15. 



