CHAPTER X.

Settlement at Thursday Island--Torres Straits Islanders--Pearl-Shell Fisheries--Value of the Shell--Pearls not abundant--Neighbouring Islands--Lizards--Land-crab--Land-shells--Ferns--Birds--Booby Island--Arrive at Port Darwin, North-Western Australia--Submarine Cables--Trans-continental Telegraph--Palmerston--Northern Territory Gold-fields--Aborigines at Port Darwin--Marine Fauna--Birds--Geese perching on Trees 194-208