Strait

Tales Of Torres

Taken from official letters dated Ist January and 11th April, 1872, written at Somerset, Queensland, by Mr. F. L. Jar dine, police magistrate: POR some time past, there has been a story in circulation here that, on the coast of New Guinea, close to Bristow Island, there are two pairs of twins, one pair male, the other female, joined to gether “back to back,” so that when walking one carries the other. I think the story most improbable and as yet have never met any person who has actually seen them, but everybody knows “someone who has.” Lately I have had several inquiries concerning them from would-be “Barnums,” who seriously as sert that “they would pay much better than pearl shell!” I believe £2OO per pair is the latest price offered for them. the information of Mr. Tucker, Master of the schooner, “Margaret Jane,” I issued a warrant for the appre hension of nine Rotuma men, who had stolen a boat and deserted from his vessel while anchored at Campbell Island.

John Larkins, the person now in charge of the station, denied all knowledge of their whereabouts, but the men were afterwards apprehended with his party at Murray Island, to which place the station was then in course of removal. The boat was discovered, concealed in the scrub on Yorke Island, but her oars were found on the station in possession of Delargy’s people.

The deserters were brought to Somer set. Some of them speak good English and are Christians.

They give as their reason for abscond ing the brutality of the Mate (hereafter referred to as X) who, it appears, was in the habit of compelling them to dive for shell by firing at them with a revolver.

They also state that he sank a canoe full of Marbiack (Mabuiag) natives, who were making their escape from the schooner, where they had been employed as divers, and fired indiscriminately among them, killing two. Mr. Chester verified their statement, as in a recent visit to Mar biack, the natives complained of the loss of two men, Nukis and Edowah, who they affirm were shot by the mate of the “Margaret Jane.”

Mr. Chester also tells me that the con fident and fearless demeanour which formerly characterised the Marbiack people has given place to a cowed and sullen manner; and now, instead of gathering on the beach to welcome a boat’s arrival, they make off with all their propery into the scrub as soon as one heaves in sight.

This man X .. on hearing that it was Captain Tucker’s intention to call at Cape York, left the vessel and took a passage to Sydney by the “James Merriman.”

G.H.V.