Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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The Natives Take Large Numbers
Of The Former; Indeed, From The Month Of November Till February
Turtle Forms Their Principal Food.
The green turtle are taken in the
water by the blacks, who display great address in "turning" them;
they
Are approached when asleep on the surface; the black slips
gently from his canoe and disappears under water, and rising beneath
the animal, by a sudden effort turns it on its back, and by a strong
wrench to the fore flipper disables it from swimming. The fisherman
is assisted by his companions in the canoe, and a line is secured to
the turtle. This is hazardous sport, and deep wounds are frequently
inflicted by the sharp edges of the shells, which in the female
turtle are very sharp. A singular mode of taking the hawksbill
turtle is followed by the natives here. This custom, though said to
be known so long back as the time of the discovery of America by
Columbus, is so strangely interesting that I will give a short
account of it, as I have seen it practised. A species of sucking
fish ('Remora') is used. On the occasion to which I allude two of
these were caught by the blacks in the small pools in a coral reef,
care being taken 'not to injure them'. They were laid in the bottom
of the canoe, and covered over with wet sea weed - a strong fishing
line having been previously fastened to the tail of each. Four men
went in the canoe; one steering with a paddle in the stern, one
paddling on either side, and one in the fore-part looking out for the
turtle and attending to the fishing lines, while I sat on a sort of
stage fixed midship supported by the outrigger poles.
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