46 BY GEORGE WATKINS. 



A drink was made from the flowers of a small species of 

 grsLsa-iree, Xantlwrrhcea hastilis,nsLti\e name ' tuckabin,' growing 

 in the swamps. The spikes of flowers, as is well known to the- 

 native bee, abound in honey. They were gathered early in the 

 morning and steeped in water. Successive quantities were used 

 till the water was saturated with the honey. This was drunk 

 fresh, and also set aside to ferment. The native bee was 

 followed up and robbed of its honey. 



After the introduction of the Enghsh bee, great quantities 

 of honey from the latter were obtained. A large trade in honey 

 and wax would have followed to the benefit of the colony had 

 not the Californian bee moth been subsequently introduced. 



Many kinds of food were forbidden to women and children, 

 and others to pregnant women. 



Huts Avere made of a framework of small saplings bent over 

 in a bee-hived shape and covered with tea-tree bark " Oodgee." 



Considerable intercourse was carried on with the mainland 

 tribes, as witness the passing on of Pamphlett and his com- 

 panions. A system of barter was maintained. The islanders 

 supphed dilly-bags and " chuleen " or shells and shell ornaments 

 made from the pearly nautilus. In exchange they received 

 " kontans " or shields made from the wood of the "Erythrina " 

 or cork tree which does not grow on the islands. Suitable 

 stones for pounding the " bungwal " are not to be got on Strad- 

 brooke ; these were obtained from the Moreton Islanders. The 

 island tribes excelled in the making of their dilly bags which 

 were worked by the women from rushes obtained in the swamps. 

 These were gathered and stripped clean for their length, then 

 steeped for a time in running water, dried, and finally toughened 

 by roasting carefully on hot ashes. These rushes were also used 

 as ties in securing the framework of the humpies. 



Spears were made of hardwood and of the wood of the 

 Dodonaa triqxietra. 



Marriage was (as among more civilized peoples) usually a 

 matter of barter. The friends of a man receiving a wife, 

 having in due time to return the compliment, and provide a wife 

 for one of the friends of the other party. Marriages were subject 



