588 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



idea is confirmed by Major Campbell's report (1892) : "It appears 

 to be the custom of the natives to bury their dead in retired spots, 

 near their most frequent camping grounds. The burial place is circular, 

 about 10ft. to 12ft. in diameter ; it is surrounded by upright poles, 

 many of which are formed at the top like lances or halberds, 14ft. to 

 15ft. high, and between these spears and waddies of the deceased are 

 stuck upright in the ground. 



On Saturday, the 22nd September, the long sandy point of Cape 

 Van Dieman was doubled. Near Cook's Reef two natives were sighted. 

 They followed the ship, making the most funny jumping movements 

 as a reply to our invitation, by " Pongi, Pongi," to come near the boat. 

 As we intended to go ashore they cleared out rapidly. Cooper suggested 

 that they belong to the tribe which speared a Japanese sailor (25) from 

 one of the pearling luggers some months ago, and that they feared 

 punishment. 



After sailing all night the cutter arrived about midday on Sunday 

 at Lethbridge Bay (26), at the mouth of an uncharted river, which has 

 been named by the Coopers the Jessie River (27). 



More than a dozen mainland natives were waiting here, who all 

 crowded on board — men, women, children, and three dogs. The 

 river was narrow, with mangroves growing so closely and thickly on 

 either hand that at several points a passage had to be cut for the boat. 

 Every branch falling down emptied a nest of green ants over our 

 heads. 



After continuing up the river for about five miles a halt was called 

 for the night, and fires were lighted on shore. I camped there, but I 

 did not sleep, because I never felt at one time such countless hordes 

 of ferocious mosquitoes as were met with on this river. An early start 

 was made the following morning, and after travelling two miles the 

 thick belt of mangroves gave place to a wide expanse of swampy country 

 swarming with many varieties of game, buffaloes, and birds, especially 

 wild geese which, with long swan-hke neck, strong bony prominences 

 on the head, and the webbed feet only partially developed, seem to 

 be identical with the species from southern New Guinea that I saw in 

 Java. 



Approximately 10 miles from the coast the water voyage ended, 

 and .we had to travel on horseback over a tableland from 100ft. to 200ft. 



(25) Government report, 1905, p. 28. 



(26) Captain King says (vol. i., p. 108) : " The country appeared verdant, 

 and the hills are thickly wooded ; at the bottom of the bay a shoal opening trends 

 in between two hills, over which, in the evening, seven natives were observed to 

 cross in a canoe. This was called Lethbridge Bay." 



(27) Government report, 1905, p. 22. — " . . . Although there appears 

 to be an abundance of fresh water on both islands, no rivers were observed to open 

 out on either of the north, south, or west coasts." But on the map a " Johnston 

 River " is marked opening in Brenton Bay. We did not proceed so far eastwards, 

 and the Johnston River is not identical with the Jessie River, the origin of which 

 is in the very centre of the island. This river, geographically undescribed, ought 

 to be termed by a definite name, for which I would suggest that of Cooper River. 



