PROCEEDINGS WHILE ON BOARD.

Giaom was evidently a great favourite with the blacks, and hardly a day passed on which she was not obliged to hold a levee in her cabin for the reception of friends from the shore, while other visitors, less favoured, were content to talk to her through the port.  They occasionally brought presents of fish and turtle, but always expected an equivalent of some kind.  Her friend, Boroto, the nature of the intimacy with whom was not at first understood, after in vain attempting by smooth words and fair promises to induce her to go back to live with him, left the ship in a rage, and we were not sorry to get rid of so impudent and troublesome a visitor as he had become.  Previous to leaving, he had threatened that, should he or any of his friends ever catch his faithless spouse on shore, they would take off her head to carry back with them to Muralug; and so likely to be fulfilled did she consider this threat, being in perfect accordance with their customs, that she never afterwards ventured on shore at Cape York.

SURVEY OF TORRES STRAIT COMPLETED.

During the period of our stay at Cape York, the Bramble, Asp, and Rattlesnake’s pinnace were sent away to the western entrance of Torres Strait to finish the survey, and returned after a month’s absence.

WINI AND THE MULGRAVE ISLANDERS.

The boats had held no intercourse with any of the natives, except a small party of Kowraregas, the inhabitants of Mulgrave and Banks Islands having carefully avoided them.  Hopes had been entertained prior to starting of seeing something of a white man of the name of Wini, who had lived with the Badus for many years.  Giaom had seen and conversed with him during a visit to Muralug which he had made in hopes of inducing her to share his fortunes.  She supposed him to be a foreigner, from his not appearing to understand the English she used when asked by him to speak in her native tongue.  He had reached Mulgrave Island in a boat after having, by his own account, killed his companions, some three or four in number.  In course of time he became the most important person in the tribe, having gained an ascendancy by procuring the death of his principal enemies and intimidating others, which led to the establishment of his fame as a warrior, and he became in consequence the possessor of several wives, a canoe, and some property in land, the cultivation of which last he pays great attention to.  Wini’s character appears from the accounts I have heard—­for others corroborated part of Giaom’s statement—­to be a compound of villainy and cunning, in addition to the ferocity and headstrong passions of a thorough savage—­it strikes me that he must have been a runaway convict, probably from Norfolk Island.  It is fortunate that his sphere of mischief is so limited, for a more dangerous ruffian could not easily be found.  As matters stand at present, it is probable that not only during his life, but for years afterwards, every European who falls into the hands of the Badu people will meet with certain death.*