NOTES ON THE ABORIGINALS, ETC., 45 



■good one. It was a common occurrence for some of the nets to 

 be so full that the individual using them had quite as much as 

 lie could do to get to shore with his load. 



At Amity Point, where the beach shoals quickly, and the 

 fish often swim too far out to be surrounded by the men without 

 going out of their depth, the blacks had managed to make friends 

 with the grey porpoises so that the latter assisted in the business. 

 On a signal being made from the beach by beating the water 

 with a spear, the porpoises would swim shorewards driving the 

 fish before them, and help to form the surrounding circle. 

 The co-operative principle was so well understood between these 

 fellow-adventurers, that an unsuccessful porpoise would swim 

 backward and forwards along the beach, until a friend from the 

 shore waded out with a fish for him^on the end of a spear. The 

 porpoises were regarded with affection and never injured in any 

 way ; offence would be taken at any proposal to hurt one, and it 

 is said the blacks even professed to claim individual ones as their 

 own. I have seen a flock of pelicans and a school of porpoises 

 join forces and fish together in a similar way. 



In olden days, it is well known that the aboriginals of 

 Moreton Bay caught thedugong, native name ' yungan,' in large 

 nets, staked in favourable positions." Flinders found one of 

 these nets on Bribie, and was much puzzled to find out for what 

 purpose it was intended. Turtle were caught in the same nets, 

 and also by direct pursuit in canoes. Instances have occurred of 

 the turtle nesting in the neighbourhood of the South Passage, 

 but they are very rare. 



Various fruits were eaten, but the only one of consequence 

 was the midgen, or Moreton Island myrtle. This grows in a few 

 places on Stradbrooke, but in great abundance on the southern 

 end of Moreton Island. It ripens about March and April, and 

 it was customary in the season to make journeys to gather it. 

 The root of a fern, Blechniun cartilagineiwi, native name ' bung- 

 wal,' formed a staple article of food. It was dug up by the gins 

 on the margins of the swamps, washed and roasted on hot ashes. 

 It was then cut in lengths, pounded between a pair of round 

 stones and eaten. It has a nutty flavour and the reputation of 

 bemg a very nutritious food. 



