DISAPPEARANCE OF BLACKS 279 



a vexatious skin disease, was fishing at the mouth of the 

 creek when his hook fouled. To a companion he said he 

 would dive to get it clear. His friend endeavoured to 

 dissuade him, reminding him of the crocodile which they 

 had seen but a short time before. But the boy, worn with 

 pain and weary with never-ending irritation, said if he 

 was taken — " No matter. Good job. Me finished then." 

 He dived, and there was a commotion in the water. The 

 boy appeared on the surface, making frantic appeals for 

 help, while the crocodile worried him. He escaped for a 

 moment, and his friend clutched his hand and drew him to 

 the bank, only to have him torn from his grasp. The 

 blacks believe the crocodile took the fish bait in the first 

 instance and lured the boy to dive. The boy certainly 

 knew the risk he ran when he did so. 



A new, if not altogether agreeable, sensation is added 

 to the gentle art if it is realised that a cruel and stealthy 

 beast is engaged in a similar pastime, with the fisherman as 

 the object of its sport. 



Disappearance of Blacks 



The rapid disappearance of blacks from localities which 

 held a considerable population causes wonder. In the 

 early days — less than a couple of decades past — they 

 swarmed on the mainland opposite Dunk Island. Now 

 the numbers are few. Within sight of Brammo Bay is the 

 scene of an official "dispersal" of those alleged to have 

 been responsible for the murder of some of the crew of a 

 wrecked vessel, who had drifted ashore on a raft. One boy 

 bears to this day the mark of a bullet on his cheek, received 

 when his mother fled for her life, and vainly, with him an 

 infant perched on her shoulders. 



In those days "troublesome" blacks were disposed of 

 with scant ceremony. An incident has been repeated to 

 me several times. A mob of " myalls " (wild blacks) — they 

 were all myalls then — was employed by a selector to clear 



