BY WALTER E. ROTH, M.R.C.S., B.A., OXON. 



49 



Narcotics were unknown. Upon this sandy tract of coun- 

 try, extending back as it did to some considerable distance from 

 the coast, two species of Banksia grew abundantly, one con- 

 spicuous by its broad leaf, the other by its narrow leaf. Each 

 species bore cones with pitcher-shaped flowers, which, containing 

 a quantity of honey, were especially visited by the black cocka- 

 toos. The natives appreciated the honey also, and, pulling 

 down the cones by means of a long sapling (close to the ex- 

 tremity of which was tied a cross-piece about 9 inches or 10 

 inches long, somewhat after the shape of a sheep crook), would 

 bite into them and suck the saccharine matter out. At other 

 times they utilised the honey by making a fermented drink of 

 it, somewhat on the following lines : — Large quantities of the 

 flower-bearing cones were taken to the side of some swamp, in 

 the close proximity of which several holes were dug into the 

 ground, each in the form of a trough about a yard long and 18 

 inches deep. Particularly sound sheets of tea-tree bark were 

 next stripped from the trees, eac h piece of bark being tied up 

 at the ends with fibre into a sort of boat-shaped vat, the sides 

 of which were kept apart by sticks stretched across ; the shape 

 of the vat lent itself to that of the trough, and there was one vat 

 for each trough. The vat was next filled with these cones and 

 water, in which they were left to soak. The cones were subse- 

 quently removed and replaced by others until such time as the 

 iquid was strongly impregnated with the honey, when it was 

 allowed to ferment for several days. The effect of drinking this 

 " mead" in quantity was exhilaratiug, producing excessive volu- 

 bility. The aboriginals called the cones and the fermented 

 liquour produced therefrom both by the same name — the man- 

 gaitch. 



Though not of a common occurrence, a man was considered 

 mad when he committed suicide. Homicide, usually a form of 

 reprisal, was not justifiable, the culprit having to answer for it 

 and to fight his victim's friend at the next gathering ; should 

 he not put in an appearance the tribe as a whole would take 

 care that a corresponding life were forfeited. " An eye for an 

 eye, a tooth for a tooth " was the golden rule here as well as else- 

 where ; an individual speared in the thigh could not wound his 

 adversary in the stomach. Abduction, the taking away of a 

 man's wife without his permission, was most unpardonable. The 

 greatest offence of all, however, and one the vindication of 

 which was taken up by the whole tribe, was that of incest, the 



