NOTES ON THE ABOEJGINALS OF STEADBROOKE 

 ANL MORETON ISLANDS. 



By GEORGE WATKINS. 



[Read before the Royal Societij of Queensland, April 17th, 1891.] 



The aboriginals of Stradbrooke and Moreton Islands, when I 

 knew them first, about twenty-three years ago, were but the rem- 

 nants of the original tribes. To these had been added a small con- 

 tingent from the neighbourhood of Lytton who had intermarried 

 with the islanders, and were themselves the remnant of their 

 tribe. 



Altogether they numbered about thirty to forty adult males, 

 about as many adult females, and from about twelve to twenty 

 children. The majority of these in about equal numbers belonged 

 to Moreton Island and to Amity Point on Stradbrooke ; two or 

 three to the neighbourhood of Point Lookout ; one only to 

 Dunwich ; two or three to the south of the latter place, and the 

 remainder to the mainland. 



From many years' contact and association with the white 

 man, they had in a large measure allowed many of their old 

 habits and customs to fall into disuse ; others were not rigidly 

 adhered to ; while the children were growing up with but little 

 idea of things as they had been. 



