PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



447 



their husbands for seal carcases. In 1830, after the decline of 

 the sealing industry, there were but 30 white men and 41 

 aboriginal women on the various Straits Islands. In 1831, Pro- 

 tector^ Eobinson was only partly successful in recovering some of 

 the women. 



The Straitsmen turned their attention to the " mutton-bird " 

 industry. At that time, the birds were only profitable for the sake 

 of their feathers, oil, and eggs. In this industry, the native women 

 were adept, and later, when the flesh came into demand, they 

 proved themselves expert in curing, &c. 



From such sources has the present population of Cape Barren 

 Island sprung. There are now only two full-blood Tasmanian 

 half -castes alive on the island. Of these, one is an invalid. The 

 -other is a hale, hearty man, now in his eightieth year. He was 

 born at Cape Portland, in June, 1833. His father was a master pilot 

 from Cardiff, and his mother was a Tasmanian aboriginal woman, 

 named Nimmeranna. This half-caste's family reveal some marked 

 Mendelian traits. He married another half-caste (Australian), 

 and had sis sous and two daughters. Of the sons, one has married 

 a quarter-caste. The children of this union show very interesting 

 characteristics. The eldest child is a girl. She is a typical fair- 

 haired, blue-eyed Caucasian. Her younger brother's skin tint, on 

 the other hand, is of a dark chocolate brown colour; his nose is 

 platyrhine, his ears are of the Australoid type, but his hair is 

 wavy, and not woolly. On examining the teeth of the school 

 children. Dr. Brooke Nicholls, of Melbourne, found that 33 per 

 cent, of the number examined had perfect teeth. The soundness 

 of the teeth of the Island children is attributable to their habit of 

 chewing " jackyvine," sheoak apples, and grasstree gum. 



Several of the children and adults also exhibit leixcotic patches, 

 more particularly in the children of quarter-castes. 



For a livelihood the islanders depend on the mutton-bird 

 industry. When the birding season commences the whole com- 

 munity migrates to their favorite grounds. Every one par- 

 ticipates in the work. In this way it is possible for a family of 

 five to earn £120 in the six weeks. The rest of the year, with 

 few exceptions, they do practically no work. They are very list- 

 less, and civilization appears to be irksome to them. The Govern- 

 ment of Tasmania has devoted some attention to the needs of the 

 islanders, and a Commissioner is now appointed to look after them. 

 Cape Barren Island is admirably suited for agriculture, but, 

 with the exception of the school garden, little cultivation has been 

 done by the islanders. In the future, by the adoption of new 

 ideas, the inhabitants of this lonely island will be able to be lifted 

 out of their present lethargy and apathy. This will be rendered 

 possible by the presence and assistance of a Government official 

 on the reservation. 



