194 TROPIC DAYS 



Darnley Island, Torres Straits. During the process 

 of cutting and paring the hooks to the size and design 

 required, the shell is frequently immersed in boiling 

 water, which temporarily overcomes its inherent tough- 

 ness. Incidentally, it may be pointed out that the 

 evidence derivable from these fish-hooks does not afford 

 proof of Papuan influence on the mind of the Australian 

 aboriginal, except at the extreme north of Cape York 

 Peninsula and a few miles down the eastern coast of 

 the Gulf of Carpentaria. This default seems the more 

 remarkable in face of the fact that outrigger canoes, 

 doubtless of Papuan or Malayan origin, were known as 

 far south as the Johnstone River. 



To say that the coastal blacks of North Queensland 

 had no knowledge of the use of barbed hooks is mis- 

 leading. In sheer desperation, when the supply of 

 pearl-shell hooks was exhausted, they were wont to 

 attach bait to their harpoon-points, and they used such 

 unpropitious means successfully, and occasionally made 

 a miniature hook by tying a sharp spur to a thin, straight 

 stick. Recent proof has been obtained of the use of 

 the lorum of one of the creeping palms, from which all 

 the spurs save three at the thicker end were scraped 

 off. With the knowledge of the efficacy of the barb 

 under extraordinary circumstances, is it not the more 

 remarkable that they failed to employ it systematically ? 

 Dr. W. E. Roth describes crescentic hooks of coco-nut 

 shell and wooden hooks with bone barb, and also barbs 

 improvised from one of the spines of the catfish. He 

 also mentions as " the most primitive form of hook" 

 the dried tendril of Hugonia Jenkensii ("pattel-pattel" 

 of the Dunk Island blacks). To anyone familiar with 

 the crescent pearl-shell hooks, the use of the singular 

 tendrils of the Hugonia would immediately be suggested ; 

 but my observation, inquiries, and opinion do not 



