PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 25 



River and Thursday Island, while Dr. Woolnough continued 

 the journey overland to Townsville. 



The general biological results were not quite up to expect- 

 ations, as the journey was made during the dry season. 

 The dry and wet seasons are very sharply defined, and, 

 during the former the lower classes of animals are very 

 scarce. With the advent of " The Wet " they appear in 

 great abundance and variety. 



Ethnological and anthropological research gave most 

 satisfactory results. At first the blacks were extremely 

 suspicious, but Professor Spencer was able to allay their 

 fears, and obtained valuable data referring to relationships, 

 beliefs and ceremonies of five of the northern tribes. 



Comparatively little stock was seen, but specimens 

 examined showed the occurrence of cattle tick throughout 

 the lower lying regions. Stock diseases, such as those 

 termed "puffs" and "swamp cancer," prevalent in the 

 wet season, were not much in evidence, but Professor 

 Gilruth was able to obtain some information with regard 

 to them. 



Malarial mosquitos, as well as other kinds, were numer- 

 ous, but no member of the party contracted the disease. 

 Dr. Breinl concludes that malignant malaria, dysentery, 

 and other tropical diseases, may be expected in increasing 

 amounts as the population becomes greater, unless very 

 careful preventive measures are employed. At the present 

 time the population is fairly healthy. Owing to the shy- 

 ness of the blacks, very little investigation of their health 

 conditions was possible. Blood smears of human beings, 

 and of animals of all kinds were collected, to be examined 

 for parasites. 



In spite of the rapidity of the journey, interesting geo- 

 logical observations were made. The Pre-Oambrian mineral 



