es Strait islanders: some of
them friz their hair up into a mop two feet in diameter, wear a comb
nearly a yard long, and bunches of dogs' teeth hanging behind, by way
of ornament, and take no little pride in adorning their persons with
paint and tattoo-marks, and flowers and plants of strong odour.
Bracelets of various kinds are a favourite decoration, and among these
the most curious 'is that made of a human lower jaw, with one or more
collar-bones closing the upper side, crossing from one angle to the
other. Whether these are the jaws of former friends or enemies,' says
Mr Macgillivray, 'we had no means of ascertaining; no great value
appeared to be attached to them; and it was observed, as a curious
circumstance, that none of these jaws had the teeth discoloured by the
practice of betel-chewing.'

A supply of yams being wanted, the cutter was sent one day at the
beginning of July to open a trade, if possible, with the natives of
Brierly Island, on which occasion 'Mr Brady took charge of the
bartering, and drawing a number of lines upon the sandy beach,
explained that when each was covered with a yam, he would give an axe
in return. At first, some little difficulty occurred, as the yams were
brought down very slowly--two or three at a time; but at length the
first batch was completed, and the axe handed over. The man who got it
had been trembling with anxiety for some time back, holding Mr Brady
by the arm, and watching the promised axe with eager eye. When he
obtained possession of it, he became quite wild with joy, laughing and
screaming, and flourishing the axe over his head. After this
commencement, the bartering went on briskly, amidst a great deal of
uproar--the men passing between the village and the beach at full
speed, with basketfuls of yams, and too intent on getting the _kiram
kelumai_ (iron axes) to think of anything else.' In this way, 368
pounds of yams were collected, at a cost of about a half-penny per
pound.

Among contrivances for procuring food, the natives of some of the
islands train the sucking-fish (_Echeneis remora_) for the chase in
the water, as dogs are trained to hunt on land. A line is made fast to
the creature's tail; it is then started in pursuit of prey, and as
soon as it has attached itself to a turtle, or any other 'game,' the
line is hauled in, and the prize secured. While the _Rattlesnake_ lay
at anchor, a number of sucking-fishes took up their quarters under her
bottom, and wh