312 By Stream and Sea. 



coast were in the habit of wearing crescent-shaped pearl-shell 

 ornaments about their necks. The industry was then orga- 

 nized, and with the most gratifying pecuniary results. 



The pearl oyster averages from seven to nine inches in 

 diameter, and the inside is lined with a beautiful coat of the 

 mother of pearl, from which buttons and other articles are 

 made. At Somerset I was presented with a pair that, 

 mounted, make capital card trays, being fully eight inches 

 across. The people engaged in pearl diving seem to be a 

 very miscellaneous set. The white men are mostly big, rough- 

 bearded fellows, some of whom would not thank you for 

 inquiring too closely into their antecedents, and who adopt 

 a remarkably " conciliating " way of dealing with their 

 coloured assistants. Very often in Australia you hear that 

 the blacks of a certain district have been conciliated — that 

 is to say, knocked down or shot. But it is only a very few 

 aboriginals who work at the pearl fishery, or indeed any 

 other steady pursuit. When the coasting steamers pass 

 between the mainland and one of the more southern islands 

 off the Queensland coast, the passengers are sometimes 

 puzzled to account for the black balls bobbing up and down 

 on the waves. The explanation is that they are natives 

 swimming off from the island to board the boat and beg a 

 passage to one of these northern ports. Three or four may 

 contrive to catch the rope that is thrown astern; the re- 

 mainder return to shore, swimming, as before, the entire 

 distance of four or five miles. Some of the fortunate ones 

 are amongst the aboriginals to be found in Torres Straits 

 amongst the pearl fishers. The South Sea Islanders, how- 

 ever, or Kanakas, as it is the fashion to call them, make- the 

 best divers. In some of the boats may be found natives of 

 the islands around New Guinea, gentlemen who, if report 

 does not belie them, are not, at their own domestic hearths, 



