130 Kennedy's expedition. 



yellow flowers. There also grew the g-enera Xan- 

 tJiorrlioea^ Xerotes, and Bestio (rope-g-rass.) 



There were a great many wallabies near the beach 

 but they were very wild. AVhile returning" to the 

 camp in the evening*, I met several natives who had 

 been out fishing*. Most of the fish they had taken 

 had been speared, only a few having* been caug*ht 

 with hooks. I remained with them some time, and 

 learned some of their expressions. Fresh water 

 they call " hammoo/'* salt water, " mocull •" their 

 dog's — the same species as the native dogs found 

 near Sydney — they call " taa-taa." We had not as 

 yet seen any of then* women, as they were encamped 

 at some distance from us. 



Near the beach, by the side of the salt water 

 creek, I saw a beautiful species of Ruellia with ter- 

 minal spikes of blue flowers, and spiny-toothed 

 leaves, and a busl\y shrub eig'ht or ten feet high — 

 with alternate exstipulate, simple, oval leaves — bear- 

 ing* a solitar}-^, axillary, round fruit, resembling* a 

 g*reeng*ag"e j)lum ) the fleshy pulp covering* the hard 

 round stone has rather a bitter taste, but it is not dis- 

 ag*reeable when ripe. It acts as a laxative if eaten 

 in an}^ quantit}^, and is probably Ifaba laurina. 



On the following* morning*, May 27th, when the 

 horses were watered and fed, I commenced dig*g*ing* 

 a piece of g*round, in which I sowed seeds of cab- 

 bag'e, turnip, leek, pumpkin, rock and water melons, 



* Kaino, at Goold Island, only a few miles distant. 



