The smoke was allowed to ascend in puffs which were regulated by the manipulation of boughs.

Not long after this curious exchange of signals (and the practice is virtually universal throughout the whole of aboriginal Australia), we saw three catamarans, or floats, each carrying a man, shooting across towards our island.

These catamarans merely consisted of a broad plank with a stick placed transversely at the prow, on which the black placed his feet.

He squatted down on the plank and then paddled forward.

I viewed their approach with mixed sensations of alarm and hope.