2^6 THE FOOD OP THE TASMANIAN ABORIGINES. 



The fern trees were split, and the core or pith was 

 eaten, probably after being roasted; the young shoots of 

 the Pteris esculenta, but in particular the roots, which 

 were roasted, appear to have been their staple vegetabilic 

 food. If available, the truffle-like fungus Mylitta aus- 

 tralis seemed to have been greatly valued. 



The other plants mentioned were probably only eaten 

 when available, but they always could depend on a good 

 supply of fern trees and fern roots. 



IV.— THE NUTRITIOUS VALUE OF THE DIET 

 OF THE ABORIGINES. 

 We will now examine the value of their diet from a 

 physiological point of view. Unfortunately the data on 

 which we can base our researches are very scanty. There 

 is, as far as I know, not a single analysis made of the meat 

 of the animals above mentioned. It is, however, prob- 

 ably not too far out if we assume that the meat of kan- 

 garoo or wombat (i) has somewhat the same percentage 

 of protein, fats, and carbo-hydrates as lean beef. 



According to Parkes, beefsteak contain 



Per Cent. 



Water 74.4 



Protein 20.4 



Fats 3.5 



Carbo-hydrates Nil 



Salts . .' 1.6 



We are somewhat better informed as to the composi- 

 tion of the shell fish, of which w^e may take the oyster as 

 the type. According to Woodruff oysters (2) contain — 



Per Cent. 



Water 87.1 



Protein 6.0 



Fats 1.2 



Carbo-hydrates 3.7 



Salts 2.0 



(i) Kangaroo, in particular wombat, meat, is very dry, lean, 

 and contains hardly any fat. Whatever its percentage of protein 

 may be, its percentage of fats must be small. 



(2) As far as I can find out oysters seem to be the only 

 animalic food that contains carbo-hydrates, and what is more, 

 to such an extent that they amount to nearly 66 per cent, of the 

 protein. It is probably on account of this high percentage of 

 carbo-hydrates that the Aborigines so eagerly consumed oysters 

 and other shell fish, because their full value of 230 cal. per pound 

 is amongst the lowest of all food stuffs. 



