Recounts the true story of the 1912 attempt by the Australian government to train white men to master the art of pearl-shell diving and thus overcome the Asian stranglehold on the industry. Underlying theme is the racial tension between whites, Asians and Aborigines in Broome during this period. Describes a world of noodle stalls, opium dens, slum dwellings, hawkers and prostitutes, more redolent of Asia than Australia. Includes illustrations, maps and note about terminology.