Historic Darnley

Island.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., Aug. 2.

VISITORS to Darnley Island, Torres Strait, now notice a great change in “layout.”

New roads have been made, portions of the hills overlooking the bays being blasted away to enable this to be done; and a good deal of drainage work has been carried out by the Teacher (Mr.

Mclntosh Murray). This should help to overcome the fever trouble which afflicts the island periodically.

The Government Teacher’s latest innovation is the installation of fresh water shower baths, enclosures being provided for men and women. The water is fed by pipes from a natural spring. A good deal of planting of flowering shrubs, etc., is also being done, and a good many of the villagers are beautifying their homes in this way, Darnley is one of the most interesting of the eastern group of islands. It is of volcanic origin, and was named by Bligh when he passed through, although the flag was actually hoisted on Darn ley by the captains of the “Hormuzeer” and the “Chesterfield” after a massacre of some of the ships’ company and passengers in 1793.

The island at one time carried a population of about a thousand; the number dwindled to about 200, but has been steadily building up again during the last few decades. It is remote from tourists and visitors, although the steamer passage from Thursday Island to Port Moresby is right alongside.

In the old days, headhunting was a favorite practice of the inhabitants, and great baskets full of skulls occupied a special zogo-house. It was Darnley

Islanders who, in their great fighting canoes, attacked Bligh, a few days be fore the affray at Warrior Island. Quite a number of old wrecks are clustered round about, and at various times old Spanish relics have been discovered.