

ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. XXI. 



remarked that Torres Straits in dividing the largest island 

 from the smallest continent, separated different races of 

 men and diverse fauna and flora. A parallel was drawn 

 between Torres Strait and the Strait of Dover. Both 

 were once dry land and invading forces both of men and 

 animals here found entrance. The incessant warfare that 

 prevailed between the raiding parties of Papuan head 

 hunters and Australian aboriginals ended in victory for the 

 defenders whose javelin and spear-thrower out ranged the 

 bamboo bow and arrow of the islanders. The Papuans 

 attained a higher level of culture than the nomad hunters 

 of the mainland, they were expert mechanics, successful 

 agriculturalists, keen traders and sailors. Geologically the 

 area has a threefold division. A series of high granite 

 islands extend north of Cape York and are the drowned 

 mountain peaks of a range that once formed a broad isthmus 

 between New Guinea and Australia. Bast of the conti- 

 nental zone is the coral area of numerous islands of the 

 cay type. This is really a continuation of the Great Barrier 

 Reef. East again of this is the volcanic zone embracing 

 a series of recent but denuded ash cones and lava flows. 

 The scenery and people were pourtrayed in coloured 

 lantern slides. 



