NORTH QUEENSLAND ETHNOGRAPHY — ROTH. 



71 



spiral, and some boys can thus only climb such a more or less 

 straight tree. 



(b) The trunk branches into an acute fork. Should the tree- 

 trunk after attaining a certain height, branch into an acute fork, 

 the native will slack out more and more of the cane over the 

 further limb while he advances correspondingly up the nearer 

 one, until such time as he can step into the intervening wedge 

 whence he can make a fresh start on either of the limbs more 

 convenient. 



(c) To free the hand holding the distal extremity of the cane, 

 he accomplishes his purpose by passing the extremity of the 

 cane behind his knee (PI. xxi., fig. 2), which is 



■very acutely bent, along the shin into the grasp 

 of his first and second toes (fig. 46). 

 ■ (d) To free the hand holding the proximal 

 (knotted) extremity (PI. xxi., fig. 3). Having 

 completed the previous movement he passes his 

 now free hand under the cane and reaches 

 gradually along until he seizes the knotted 

 extremity ; as soon as he has a firm grip, the 

 original one can be released. 



(e) To manoeuvre an outstanding branch at a considerable 

 height is only what a few expert climbers can do. It is mastered 

 thus : — The hunter will carry up with him, by means of a loop 

 around his fore-head or neck (tig. 47) a sort of " guide-rope," i.e., 

 another length of much lighter cane (but about twice as long 

 as the height of the outstanding branch from the ground) and 

 advance as high up as the limb .in question will admit. He 

 then frees one hand, and i;asses the " guide-rope " over the 

 branch to his friends below (fig. 48) ; as soon as it reaches them. 



Fis;. 4G. 



L>1 



vh 



Fig. 47. Fig. 4S. Fig. 49. 



he lets go of it. His mates underneath now attach a much 

 heavier cane to this guide-rope, and pull it up again (fig. 49). As 

 soon as this latter one readies him from over the branch, he 



