HUMAN FOODS. 15 
“The beans are used as food by the aborigines, who prepare 
them by first steeping them in water from eight to ten days; they 
are then taken out, dried in the sun, roasted upon hot stones, 
pounded into a coarse meal, in which state they may be kept for 
an indefinite period. When required for use, the meal is simply 
mixed with water, made into a thin cake, and baked in the usual 
manner. In taste, cakes prepared in this way resemble a coarse 
ship biscuit.” (C. Moore.) 
A sample of starch from these beans was exhibited by 
Mr. Moore at the Intercolonial Exhibition of Melbourne, 1866. 
Northern New South Wales and Queensland. 
42. Casuarina stricta, Azz, (Syn. A. guadrivalvis, Labill. ; 
C. macrocarpa, A. Cunn.; C. cristata, Mig.; C. Gunniz, 
Hook.), N.O. Casuarinez, B.FI., vi. 195. C. guadrivalvis 
m Muell. Cens., p. 22. 
“Shingle Oak,” ‘‘ Coast She-oak,” ‘‘ River Oak,” ‘‘ Salt-water Swamp 
Oak.” The “ Worgnal” of the aboriginals of the Richmond and Clarenc 
{New South Wales). 
In cases of severe thirst, great relief may be obtained from 
chewing the foliage of this and other species, which, being of an 
acid nature, produces a flow of saliva—a fact well-known to bush- 
men who have traversed waterless portions of the country. This 
acid is closely allied to citric acid, and may prove identical with it. 
Children chew the young cones, which they call ‘‘ oak apples.” 
All the colonies except Western Australia and Queensland. 
43. Chenopodium auricomum, Z7nd/., N.O. Chenopodiacez, 
Bell, V., 159. 
This is another of the salt-bushes, which, besides being 
invaluable food for stock, can be eaten by man, All plants of the 
Natural Order Chenopodiacez (Salsolaceze) are more or less useful 
in this respect. 
The following account of its practical utilization will be of 
interest :— 
“We have recently gathered an abundant harvest of leaves 
from two or three plants growing in our garden, ‘These leaves 
were put into boiling water to bleach them, and they were then 
