44 BY GEORGE WATKINS. 



Carpet snakes of large size are met with on the south of 

 Stradbrooke in the mangrove swamps. I remember a black- 

 fellow meeting one so large that he was afraid to tackle him, 

 and cleared. Iguanas and flying foxes are common. Ducks, 

 black swan, curlews, parrots, etc., etc., are plentiful at seasons 

 in different localities. All, with the exception of the dog, are 

 eaten ; but it is from the sea that the chief supplies of food 

 were drawn. 



The beach yielded Crustacea and shell-fish ; among the latter 

 oysters, pearl oysters, cockles and mussels of which the three 

 last were always roasted. Low water was a working time for 

 the gins especially. They went out with dilly-bags and short 

 spears, returning with the former filled Avith shellfish, coral, 

 eels, crabs, &c. Fish were speared in the creeks and from the 

 beach at high water. During the winter months shoals of 

 mullet and other fish came in, when a general time of feasting 

 ensued. They were caught in towrows, a kind of hand net, made 

 as a deep long pocket attached to a frame in the shajDe of a 

 bow. In olden times, and at times in my experience, the twine 

 used was prepared by themselves from the bark of the Hibiscus 

 tiliaccom or native cotton tree, (native name, " Talwalpin ") and 

 other fibrous plants. A net was held in each hand with the 

 string side of the bow towards the body and the pocket 

 trailing behind. The more men in the party within certain 

 limits, say up to twenty, the better. One man acted as leader 

 usually through the season, and instead of nets carried a roughly 

 notched staff. Upon a school of fish being sighted coming along, 

 this leader, followed in succession by the larger half of the party, 

 waded into the water at the proper moment to meet the fish. 

 The best and most experienced men were placed first, leaving the 

 less experienced and inferior to complete the line behind ; the 

 remainder of the party prepared to enter the water behind the 

 fish — the aim being to enclose the fish within a circle of 

 nets. When the right time came a quick rush was made 

 and the circle completed. The fish in the endeavour to escape 

 rushed into the towrows and were there secured by a twist of the 

 wrist. A peculiar gutteral noise was made by the men when 

 making the rush to surround the school, and it was easily known 

 by the short quick ejaculations following, if the catch were a 



