t}2 ANTHROPOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF QUEENSLAND. 



via Torres Straits as the hypothetical route in the 

 migrations of the culture bearers who were responsible 

 for ihe diffusion of the " Heliolithic culture complex." 



Our present day knowledge of the distribution of 

 these cults in Australia does not, however, confirm this 

 view, nor do we find any one of them established in these 

 northern aieas of Cape York where we should have a right 

 to expect them if the route chosen had been from New 

 iQuinea via the Torres Straits. 



We know that only in recent years have natives of the 

 West commenced to commingle with the East, the great 

 hostility still existing even in the present day between 

 the two, being the cause why in previous years there existed 

 no intercourse of any kind between them. Further evidence 

 shows that in geological times Australia was in land 

 4}onnection with Asia, not only with New Guinea but probably 

 also with Timor. The north west portion of the Gulf 

 is still undergoing steady subsidence and the flooding of 

 the low-ljring lands is becoming yearly more severe. 

 Further, Asiatic origin for certain of our birds and animals 

 is also urged since it is a known fact that certain of these 

 are far more closely aUied to the Asiatic species than they 

 are to the Papuan. In support of my theory it is also 

 interesting to note that the bamboo tobacco pipe is found 

 principally in the region around Cairns. An exceptionally 

 ornamented and elaborately carved bamboo pipe of New 

 Guinea design is in the collections of the Queensland Museum 

 (Q.E. 14/5()9), and was obtained at Cooktown. Another 

 instance of Papuan influence in this region is to be found 

 irj the presence of the gourd water bottle, all the specimens 

 so far recorded coming from Cardwell. Beyond this, 

 Papuan influence (Hamlyn-Harris 42) is rather of a different 

 nature, and the idea of an infusion of Papuan blood is not 

 borne out by any direct proof. Further, in this connection 

 Graebner (34) confirms this when he says : — " Geschlossene 

 Gebiete melanesischen Einflusses finden wir jedoch nur 

 jm nordoestlicben Telle von Queensland." 



It is true that the practice of carrjing portions of the 

 human body in dilly bags is universal, and the practice 

 •common over nearly all parts of Cape York Peninsula of 

 burying the bones in bark coffins in trees and eaves 



