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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They Smoke To Such Excess As To Become
Quite Insensible, And In That State They Fall Into Their Camp-Fires,
And Receive The Injuries Mentioned.
The pipe used is a singular
instrument for the purpose.
It is a hollow bamboo about 2 1/2 feet
long, and as thick as a quart bottle; one of the smoking party fills
this in turn with smoke from a funnel-shaped bowl, in which the
tobacco is placed by blowing it through a hole at one end of the
tube. When filled it is handed to some one who inhales and swallows
as much of the smoke as he can, passing the pipe on to his neighbour.
I have seen a smoker so much affected by one dose as to lie helpless
for some minutes afterwards.
19. Thus much for the general appearance and habits of the Cape
York natives. A very accurate vocabulary of their language has been
published by Mr. M'Gillivary in his account of the voyage of H.M.S.
Rattlesnake. Of their superstitions I am unable to speak with
certainty. That they have no belief in the existence of a Supreme
Being is, I think, positive. They are, like all the Australian
tribes, averse to travelling about at night if dark; this, I believe,
chiefly arises from the inconvenience and difficulty of moving about
at such times, and not from any superstitious fear. They travel when
there is moonlight. They are true observers of the weather, and
before the approach of a change move their camps so as to obtain a
sheltered position.
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