INTRODUCTION 5 



been given neither poverty nor riches, and who has proved 

 (to his own satisfaction at least) the wisdom of the sage 

 who wrote — " If you wish to increase a man's happiness 

 seek not to increase his possessions, but to decrease his 

 desires." Success will have been achieved if these pages 

 reveal candour and truthfulness, and if thereby proof is 

 given that in North Queensland one " can draw nearer to 

 nature, and though the advantages of civilisation remain 

 unforfeited, to the happy condition of the simple, uncompli- 

 cated man." 



In furtherance of the desire that light may shine upon 

 certain phases of the character of the Australian aboriginal, 

 space is allotted in this book to selected anecdotes. Some 

 are original ; a few have been previously honoured by print. 

 Others have wandered, unlettered vagrants, so far and wide 

 as to have lost all record of legitimacy. To these house- 

 less strangers I gladly offer hospitality, and acknowledge 

 with thankfulness their cheerful presence. 



Grateful acknowledgments are due to Mr F. Manson 



Bailey, F.L.S., the official botanist of Queensland, for the 



scientific nomenclature of trees and plants referred to in a 



general way. 



E. J. BANFIELD. 



Brammo Bay, Dunk Island, 

 November 1906. 



