Records [Frederick Harold] Gray’s (1899-?) developing relationship with Wongo [Wonggu] (1880-1959) and his engagement of Australian Aboriginal men to dive for trepang (Holothuroidea) while fishing off the [Caledon] Bay. When Gray’s boat was beached for cleaning, ‘careening’, the Australian Aboriginal men that he employed went to the Japanese boats, that had arrived in the bay, for employment. The Japanese boats, apart from a crew of 3 Japanese per boat, also carried up to one dozen Australian Aboriginal people from Melville, Goulburn and Crocodile Islands. Gray’s boat was to be refloated on 17 September 1932.

NOTE: Photograph 1 (391) from Mr Fitzgerald

1. Photograph: ‘Wongo with eleven of his wives. Photo taken by a member of the Peace Expedition’

Places mentioned: [Caledon] Bay (NT); Melville Island (NT); Goulburn Island (NT); Crocodile Island (NT)

People mentioned: [Frederick Harold] Gray (1899-?); Wongo [Wonggu] (Australian Aboriginal man) (1880-1959)

Luggers mentioned: Myrtle Olga; Raf

Terminology mentioned: Careening (turn a ship on its side for cleaning, caulking or repair); yellow skins

Industry mentioned: Pearling; trepanging

Marine invertebrate mentioned; Trepang [sea cucumber] (Holothuroidea)

Events mentioned: The Peace Expedition [mission] (1933) (planned by the Church Missionary Society)

Photo number/s as per Journal and Index of Photographs: 391