Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/49

Rh Mr. S told me that the Customs Revenuereturns from Thursday Island were last year over £11,000. Visible from here are many islands—Hammond, Prince of Wales, Friday, Wednesday, Sunday Isles, and others, all hilly, well wooded, and extremely pretty. It is; in fact; a beautiful scene, and I am delighted with it all.

We dine at one o'clock, Mrs. M‘Nulty and Bridget not only waiting on us, but entertaining us and entering fully into the conversation. Both are most important ladies here, and Bridget is the only respectable unattached white woman in the community, and so has many admirers and friends. The company comprises two pilots, Captains Hand L;a youth, C who is postmaster, I think; a young Irishman, the banker here and a miserable, fever-stricken, drink-soddened man, and myself.

Then at supper in the evening were various others—all most friendly and kind, full of wonder at what I can be doing here, and perfectly certain that I mean to invest money in some scheme. The sea beach in front is a fine stretch of firm sand; and near there is a graceful group of palms with a shady seat under them. The different natives look quite picturesque going about, and some of the Malays and Kanakas are fine-looking men. Some of the Kanaka divers have white women and living with them.

As I strolled along exploring, I saw a golden-haired lady in a pink silk tea-gown lying in a hammock on a verandah, and being surprised at such an apparition here, I suppose ‘I stared somewhat for up the lady, said jumped the, "D—n your eyes!" and flounced indoors. She belonged to one of the Kanaka pearl-divers.

As soon as I went to stroll along the sands a dog flew after me, appeared delighted, and has