the hip (in a comparatively dangerous situation), one in the wrist of a gin (boomerang wound), and in the forearm. Women come into the circle and egg their husbands and relatives on; they bite their spears and sticks, strike and throw them on the ground, and will fight with members (female) of the opposite faction. They are using their tongues all the time, and with far greater effect than the men. The din is something terrible while the tournament lasts.

Every ten minutes or quarter of an hour or so there is a rest; the spears and boomerangs may be collected and returned to their owners, the intervals, after once the prun has originally properly started, being of short duration. So, again, if a person is badly injured, there is a short cessation of hostilities (while he is being carried off the ground to safe quarters), but only to be immediately resumed.

Fair play is certainly recognised in these encounters, and supposing only a few members of a mob turn up at the prun, and they are getting worsted by a stronger force, a third mob (even perhaps already at enmity with them) will come to the assistance of and join forces with the weaker.

Thus they go on fighting until dark, when more friendly relations are resumed, the waru-waru and other corroborees are performed, and all goes well until the next morning, when, just as the sun rises, they have another final bout; and, as soon as the fighting is over, they all disperse to their respective homes. Evidently the prun both helps to settle old scores and at the same time promotes social intercourse and amusement.

I have had two opportunities of watching these prunsone from the time it commenced until dark-and saw upwards of 200 savages congregated. On the second occasion, the Tully blacks had determined upon taking the life of one of the Clump Point boys, for the following reasons:-On the previous Sunday's prun he had thrown a spear high up against a tree, whence it had glanced sharply downwards, imbedding itself in the neck of an old man (Tully native) with fatal results. The unfortunate thrower of the spear happened to be a "doctor," and nothing would satisfy the deceased's tribesmen but that it was some of his witchcraft which was responsible for the death. Mr. E. Brooke, who was with me at the time, did his best to explain that it was a pure accident; but it was no good. After taking sides, the fight commenced amongst these excited savages, with the