Aborigines performing a corroboree at Port Essington. Port Essington was one of the places where murders had been committed by Aborigines. To impress the Aborigines it was officially decided that the hanging of the offender should take place at or near the scene of the crime. The occasion coincided with the annual distribution of blankets and rations etc for the cool season on May 24th (Queen's birthday) which occasion was celebrated by a corroboree. It was found later that the hanging ritual had been incorporated into a corroboree, and that some of the Aborigines were playing at hanging another. Note the bricks left at the site of the old military settlement.,