THIRD NORTHERN CRUISE 263 



langerous ruffian could not easily be found. As matters stand at present, it is probable 

 that not only during his life but for years afterwards, every European who falls into 

 the hands of the Badu people will meet with certain death." 



Lieutenant J. Sweatman, of the "Bramble" connected the 

 advent of Wini on Mulgrave Island with the murder of a boat's 

 crew belonging to a Sydney becbe de mer and tortoise-shell vessel, 

 who, in June, 1846, landed on MULGRAVE ISLAND to barter, but 

 rowed off to a sandbank on the appearance of suspicious symptoms 

 among the natives. Four men were killed on the sandbank, while 

 two others, who were in the boat, apparently escaped. " In my 

 opinion," observes MacGillivray, " Wini's arrival on Mulgrave 

 Island probably took place long before the murder of the boat's 

 crew. More, I think, than three years and a half must have been 

 required for him to have acquired the influence, reputation and 

 property referred to by Gi'Om ; and this supposition accords with 

 her phrase of c many years.' ' 



Only two years ago, i.e., before 1849, adds MacGillivray, two 

 men and a boy, who had reached BANKS ISLAND in a boat, were 

 murdered by the natives. MacGillivray remarks that the natives 

 of DARNLEY ISLAND, which is more frequently visited by ships than 

 Banks Island, are safe to deal with, and that the MURRAY ISLANDERS 

 treat distressed strangers with kindness. 



MacGillivray's observations led him to the conclusion that the 

 CAPE YORK NATIVES were of mixed Australian and Papuan blood. 

 The PRINCE OF WALES ISLANDERS look down upon them and are 

 justified in regarding them as inferiors. Bows and arrows are in 

 use on the islands, but not on the mainland, where also there is no 

 true chieftainship. I may point out that observations prior to 

 MacGillivray's leave it doubtful whether, even in the islands, there 

 is chieftainship, or anything more than the temporary ascendancy of 

 individuals showing unusual strength of character. Nor am I 

 certain that a deliberate preference for wimmeras and spears to 

 bows and arrows is in itself a proof of mental inferiority. On the 

 other hand, the superiority of the islanders in cultivation, in 

 industry and in land and marine architecture, is beyond question. 



During a stay of nine weeks in the neighbourhood of Cape York, 

 the men of the " Rattlesnake " had good opportunities for observing 

 the natives of the " Land's End " of the Australian continent, with 

 whom they kept up friendly relations. They were interested 

 spectators of a FIGHT or tournament, of fifteen warriors on each 

 side, which resolved itself into duels with spears between individual 

 combatants. When shooting parties left the ship, each sportsman 

 was assisted by a favoured black individual who had been selected 

 as associate, or botaiga (younger brother), and there was keen 

 competition for this honour. 



A native DANCE, of about 150 performers, was got up for 

 the entertainment of the visitors ; but it proved, according 



