Trade
Even before 1788 there were complex relationships for long distance trade between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities especially for coastal shells and stone hatchets. When people from different groups met socially to share resources, for ceremonies or to settle disputes, they bought items to exchange. Items included stones for axes, kangaroo skins, timber for spears, ochre or clay for paint and marine shells for decoration. In Queensland a major trade item was a narcotic known as pituri, which was a hunger and pain suppressant.
The exchange of objects was not motivated by a desire for wealth accumulation but a social system to build connection between people and groups.
Communities in northern parts of Australia traded with people from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. For example, Macassans collected beche-de-mer (trepang) and trochus through trade with mainland Aboriginal people. Torres Strait Islanders had trading relationships with the people of both mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea. The latter was crucial as a source of heavy timber for sailing canoes.
Previous Next