Reprint of the original, first published in 1881.

Contains virtually all source material for early encounters with Aborigines of Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf of Carpentaria up to c.1900; v.1, chap.2-8; Summary of early Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese contacts; chap.11-16; Cook, Bligh, Bampton, Alt; chap.18-19; Flinders; chap.21; P.P. King, Cunningham (account of cave paintings on Clacks Island); chap.22; Wreck of Charles Eaton; chap.23; Wickham, Stokes; chap.25; Blackwood; chap.26-29; Leichhardt; chap.30-36; Kennedy; chap.41-46; Jardine Brothers; v.2, contains discussion of native labour problems (chap.51) and history of missions in area, as well as accounts of later contacts with Aborigines.