3

(3). [centred] 10 [written in pencil]

accepted and it is owing to the cordial co-operation and
assistance of M^r Jardine that I was enabled to collect
whatever information is contained in this paper -

My first visit was to Jervis Island. This
island being quite out of the track of vessels navigating
Torres Strait was merely approximately laid down by the
Surveyors, and until the close of the year 1870 was never
visited by Europeans. It is situated to the Northward of
Mulgrave island and is about Sixty miles distant from
Cape York. The boats of the "Pakeha" and "Melanie" were
the first to call there and obtained a quantity of pearl
and tortoise-shell. The natives had recently returned
from a successful foray on Banks island in which
they had killed thirteen of the Italeega and carried off
several women. The fresh skulls were there hanging
in their huts. They saw also a quantity of damaged
tobacco, which probably came from the wreck of the
"Honolulu", and purchased for a handkerchief a large
tarpaulin. On arriving at the island I ran the boat
into a small bay on the NE side where I found no
less than fifteen canoes hauled up on the mud and
a crowd of men on the rocks. An interpreter from
Cape York explained to them the reason of our visit and
warned them that not more than one canoe would
be allowed alongside at a time. With some little dif-
ficulty, due to the stupidity of the interpreter, they were
made to understand that the price of a tomahawk
or small knife was 10 pair of shells; of a large knife
15 pair; while three would purchase a fig of tobacco,
and five pair a piece of iron for a fish spear. When
the first tomahawk was handed out, it was exhibited
in triumph to the people on shore who set up a
great shout and sent off in haste for the shell stowed