NATIVE HUNTING METHODS 129 



any part of the body, await an opportunity of spearing! 

 it there, with almost invariably speedy fatal results. 



The flesh of a young dugong is sweet and tender, 

 and the blubber, dry-cured after the manner of bacon, 

 with equal quantities of salt and sugar and finally 

 smoked, quite a delicacy. 



Not long since an opportunity was given of examining 

 the effects of a bullet on a dugong. We had harpooned 

 a calf, perhaps a year and a half old, and as it rose 

 to the surface in the first struggle for freedom, I 

 shot it, using a Winchester repeating carbine, 25-35, 

 carrying a metal patched bullet. There was no apparent 

 wound, and on the second time of rising another bullet 

 was lodged in the head, causing instantaneous death. 

 vWhen the animal came to be skinned, it was found 

 that the first bullet had completely penetrated the 

 body, the tough, rubber-like hide so contracting over 

 the wounds of entry and exit as to entirely prevent 

 external bleeding. The fatal bullet had almost com- 

 pletely pulverized the skull, the bones of which were 

 ivory -like in texture. The appearance of the skull 

 might have led to the conclusion that an explosive 

 instead of a nickel-plated bullet had been used, while 

 if the first bullet had not penetrated several folds of 

 the intestines, no doubt it would have caused the animal 

 very little inconvenience." 



Mr. Banfield, in a further volume of hia ex- 

 periences, 1 gives an amusing description of the 

 natives' method of securing fish : * The rains which 

 came at the New Year flooded all the creeks of 

 the island. Accumulations of sand usually form 

 beds through which the sweet water slowly mingles 

 1 See Bibliography, 19. 

 9 



