Headhunting was alleged to occur locally, with the colonists citing the discovery of thousands of skulls in village houses and the longhouse in the early 20th century.

This led to a Royal Commission by the Australian government, which made unfounded claims of cannibalism by the First Nations people.

Risk Point is the eastern extreme and southward of it there is a sand bank, nearly dry at low water, which extends nearly 3 miles (4.8 km) off the southeast side of the island.

Its highest point is about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) above sea level; it consists of mud formation, sedimentary in nature.

James Chalmers and Oliver Fellows Tomkins (1873–1901), together with ten missionary students, were killed with stone implements and allegedly cannibalised by local First Nations peoples,[2] at Dopima village when they attempted to evangelise and convert them; their bones were hung as trophies.

The object was to apprehend a native called Lake who was allegedly involved in the murders and who had refused to return the mortal remains of the missionaries for a Christian burial.

Professor Matthew R. Keller believes the commission viewed the population of the island as a different biological species.

[9] As a consequence of the villagers' massacre, Robinson shot himself and was replaced as Chief Judicial Officer by Hubert Murray.

[5] Pile dwellings are common as most of the land is barely above high water (of spring tides) which makes most of the island almost uninhabitable.