12 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



as the incense of the first morning's sacrifice went straight 

 as a column to the sky. 



Over half a century before, Edmund B. Kennedy, the 

 explorer, landed on the opposite shore, on his ill-fated 

 expedition up Cape York, to find the country inland from 

 Tam o' Shanter Point altogether different from any pre- 

 viously-examined part of Australia. We gave no thought 

 to the gallant explorer, near as we were to the scenes of 

 his desperate struggle in the entanglements of the jungle. 



The island was all before us, where to choose our place 

 of rest, and the bustle of the transport of goods and chattels 

 to the site in the thick forest invisible from the sea began 

 at once. Before sunset, tents were pitched among the trees, 

 and a few yards of bush surrounding then cleared, and we 

 were at home. 



Prior to departing from civilisation we had arranged for 

 the construction of a hut of cedar, so contrived with nicely 

 adjusting parts and bolts, and all its members numbered, that 

 a mere amateur could put it together. If at the end of six 

 months' trial the life was found to be unendurable, or 

 serious objection not dreamt of in our salad philosophy 

 became apparent, then our dwelling could be packed up 

 again. All would not be lost. 



The clearing of a sufificient space for the accommodation 

 of the hut was no light task for unaccustomed hands, for 

 the bloodwood trees were mighty and tough, and the 

 dubious work of burning up the trunks and branches while 

 yet green, in our eagerness for free air and tidiness, was 

 undertaken. It was also accomplished. 



For several weeks there was little done save to build a 

 kitchen and shed and widen the clearing in the forest. 

 Inspection of the details of our domain was reserved as a 

 sort of reward for present task and toil. According to the 

 formula neatly printed in official journals, the building of a 

 slab hut is absurdly easy — quite a pastime for the settler 

 eager to get a roof of bark or thatch over his head. The 

 frame, of course, goes up without assistance, and then the 

 principal item is the slabs for walls. When you have fallen 



