North Coast: Torres" Strait.'] INTRODUCTION. 
xxxvii 
in the following manner. Six stakes were driven into the ground ; Bampton 
about three feet from each other, and six feet high. A platform ^93?' 
of twigs was worked upon them, at the height of five feet; and 
upon this, the body was laid, without covering ; but the putrid state 
of the corpse, did not allow of a close inspection. 
Upon the reefs which surround the island, square places, of about 
fifty feet every way, were formed, by piling up stones of two or 
three feet high. The tide flows over these ; and, on the ebb, the 
Indians go down and take out the fish. On all parts of the reefs, 
there were bamboos set up, with pendants of dried leaves; but 
whether they were intended as beacons for the canoes, or to point 
out the boundaries of each fishery, could not be ascertained. 
The description of the canoes is nearly the same as that given in 
the voyage of Bligh and Portlock ; but Mr. Bampton says, " some 
" of them were ingeniously carved and painted, and had curious 
" figures at each end." The weapons of these people are bows, 
arrows, clubs of about four feet long, and spears and lances of 
various kinds, made of black, hard, wood. Some of the lances were 
jagged, from the sharp point to a foot upward ; and most of them 
were neatly carved. 
The sole quadrupeds seen, were fats, mice, and lizards ; which, 
when the huts were set on fire, ran from them in great numbers. 
Land birds were numerous in all parts of the island ; and upon the 
reefs were many curlews, large yellow-spotted plover, king's fishers, 
sand pipers, red bills, and gulls. 
Captain Bampton lays down Darnley's Island, which the natives 
call Wamvax, in latitude 9 0 39' 30" south, and longitude 142 0 59' 15" 
east; but in his chart, the centre is placed in 9°34,' south, and 14,3° 1' 
east. He much regretted that he could not land again, to examine 
the interior parts of this fine island ; but his long boat having drifted 
out of sight, without water, provisions, or compass, it was judged 
necessary for the ships to weigh, and look after her. 
July n. The Hormuzeer stood to the northward, with sound- 
