126 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. 



all situated, as marked on the chart, on the extreme north-east area of the Great Barrier region, 

 are composed, as originally described by Mr. Jukes, of rock formations that differ essentially 

 in character from those of the Australian mainland, with the islands north and east of 

 Cape York. In place of the granite and the feldspar which predominate on the mainland, 

 the rocks of those north-eastern islands are explained by Mr. Jukes to consist partly of 

 sandstone and conglomerate made of pebbles, or of lava and coral limestone, with some beds of 

 finer tuff, and partly of large masses of dark, heavy, hornblendic lava. The eruption of these 

 volcanic rocks, Mr. Jukes adds, "though probably of comparatively modern origin, geologically 

 speaking, must yet historically be, of ancient date, as no traces of any craters are apparent. 

 From the occurrence of pebbles of coral limestone, the}' are almost certainly of subsequent origin 

 to the commencement of the coral-reefs here, but may yet date back into some tertiary period." 

 Geologically, this Murray and Darnly Island group would appear to have a much closer 

 connection with New Guinea, to whose shores they are relatively near. The physical 

 appearance of these islands is also much more Papuan ; the coastal areas, and often a large 

 portion of the hills, being similarly covered with dense groves of cocoa-nut palms, which are 

 not found on the Australian mainland and its more nearly associated islands. 



The ethnological investigation of the Torres Strait region has revealed the fact that 

 very marked distinctions characterise the racial affinities of the inhabitants of the eastern and 

 the western sub-divisions of the Torres Strait areas ; collectively, they are both physically and 

 mentally vastly superior to the aboriginal tribes of the Australian mainland, and in this direc- 

 tion also possess much more in common with the Malay and the Papuan races. This subject has 

 within the past few years been specially investigated by Professor A. C. Haddon, of the Royal 

 College of Science, Dublin, who spent a considerable time in the Strait amassing information con- 

 cerning their racial distinctions, customs, ceremonies, superstitions, and legendary traditions. 

 Before the advancing tide of colonisation, these island tribes have almost entirely lost their original 

 individuality. In many instances, in fact, the tribes as separate entities are virtually extinct, 

 and, under the most favourable conditions, are now represented by a dwindling population, of 

 which the name only will be left a few decades hence. Professor Haddon has, in conse- 

 quence, rendered valuable service to the science of ethnology, in gathering together and 

 rescuing from oblivion a trustworthy record of the individual distinctions and affinities of these 

 island tribes.* 



There is one other subject associated with the geographical aspect of the Great Barrier 

 Reef that demands brief attention before proceeding to a consideration of the conditions under 



* Readers desiring full information on this highly-interesting subject are referred to Professor A. C. Haddon's 

 original paper, "On the Ethnography of the Western Tribe of Torres Strait," published in the Journal of the Anthropo- 

 logical Institute for February, 1890; also to his papers, entitled, "Legends from Torres Strait," published in Volume I., 

 Nos. 1 and 2, 1890, of the journal Folk-Lore. 



