illness,
especially "fits" in the water. Fits do undoubtedly occur
occasionally, but the vast majority of the cases are feigned, probably
not more than two or three real ones occurring in the whole
fleet in the course of a season ; and even in these cases, the results
do not appear to call for the alarm which their occurrence causes. The
power of imitation however, is so great, that the most experienced
pearler can never be absolutely sure of his judgment of a case.
Although
sharks are very numerous, accidents attributable to them are
fortunately rare. The loss of life from this cause is only from a half
to one per cent, in the season. Alligators are much more dangerous, but
they do not go far out to sea, and are never found south of King's
Sound.
The
wholesome regulation against the supply of spirits to the aborigines is
doubtless of advantage in keeping up the standard of the race, but
nowhere in the world is the "native policy" a more vexed question than
in Australia. In that Continent the gradual extinction of the natives
before the usurping white race appears to be inevitable.
There is little to be said about the Malays that are employed in the fishery; they are a tractable
