Author's note: ' Now for the first time published, this story, written about 1897, claims to be a realistic sketch of North Queensland when sugar planting with South Sea Islanders' labour was in full swing. A suggestion to publish it in aid of the AUSTRALIAN SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS has finally been determined by reading to-day that the resident Commissioner of the Western Pacific thinks that a large body of natives is available and anxious to aid the Empire in the present war, and that already they have raised a large donation; and therefore I hope that little Tassong will be able to do his 'bit'.'