510 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



by means of smoke signalling. The fact that, the party was return- 

 iiiif, together with, the numbers of men and the horses, was known 

 at the station six weeks prior to their arrival. Attention shovild 

 be given to the fact that the incident illustrates that the natives 

 were enabled to enumerate a much larger number than four or five 

 — the limit usually placed to their powers of enumeration. The 

 members of the expedition are emphatic that blacks, in their 

 wildest state, indicate numbers up to several score quite accu- 

 rately, by rej^eatedly opening and closing the fingers upon the palm 

 of the hand ; and, further, that they can convey such enumeration 

 by smoke signal. Here is evidence of far greater intelligence than 

 is iisually placed to their credit. Mr. Stephen King, also a member 

 of this expedition, confirms the truth of the above statement. 



In "Aborigines of Victoria" R. Brough Smyth, quoting from 

 '• Overland Expedition." Jardine, p. 85, says of the natives of 

 Cape York : — " Communication between the islanders and the 

 natives of the mainland is frequent, and the rapid manner in 

 which news is carried from tribe to tribe to great distances is 

 astonishing." (Also p. 153, "Aborigines of Victoria.") 



"The Australian Race," Edward M. Curr, vol. i., p. 93; ii., 

 p. 418. " Report of the Coast Covmtry, kc, from Cockburn Sound 

 to Geographe Bay, W.A., 17 to 30 Nov., 1829," Mr. Collie and 

 Lieut. Preston, R.N. 



Dr. Imlay (January, 1838j, in his "Journal of a Trip to the 

 Murray," accompanied by Mr. Hill, narrates that near the river 

 " we saw a circular smoke arising from a wood on the adjoining 

 height," and, hearing a low cooee from the opposite bank, they 

 ascended an eminence and " perceived signal fires in every direc- 

 tion." 



Messrs. Hill, Wood, Willis, and Oakden (March, 1838) made a 

 trip northward through Cockatoo Valley to the Murray, where they 

 saw native signal smokes and numerous natives gathered. 



Mr. Stephen King, Survey Department, Adelaide, says that 

 during the Overland Telegraph construction, 1870-71, the natives 

 of the coast informed the natives at Leichardt's Bar, by signal 

 smokes raised along the course of the river, of the arrival of vessels 

 at the Roper River mouth, sixty-five miles from the camp. Both 

 the natives and the whites drew figures of vessels with the finger 

 in the sand in confirmation of the accuracy of the information. 



Mr. C. G. Carruthers, explorer, states that signal smokes, both 

 pale and dark, are in constant use in Central Australia, verging on 

 the boundary line of Western and South Australia, and in the 

 Macdonnell and Musgrave Ranges country. He describes funnel- 

 shaped channels, scooped out in the earth surface, leading from 

 outside the fire area to vmderneath the dry fuel of the fire, to 

 provide a free supply of air to the fire, and so aid in the progress 

 upward of the signal. Green material is laid on the fire to pro- 

 duce dark smoke. The native signaller can, if desired, so construct 



