2U2 



An Analysis of the Ashl of the 

 Acacia Saligina. 



By a. J. HiGGiN. 

 [Read AugusL 4, 19u3.] 



Some time ago Professor Stirling suggested that it would be- 

 of interest if an analysis of the ash of the Acacia salicina were 

 made with a view of ascertaining whether it exhibited any 

 material difference from the ashes of other plants. 



The ash of the Acacia salicina ig used by the natives of Ausi- 

 tralia for mixing with pituri before mastication. An account 

 of the preparation and use of this substance has been kindly 

 supplied to me by Professor Stirling. 



Pituri consists of the dried lea\es and twigs of Duhosia 

 Hopu'oodi, natural order, Solinaceae. 



It is the masticatory or chewing substance exten- 

 sively used for the sake of its stimulant and narcotic 

 properties by the natives of a large tract of Eastern 

 Central Australia, extending northwards from Cooper's Creek 

 and including parts of South Australia, New South Wales, and 

 Queensland. The leaves and twigs are gathered about 



August, when the plant is in flower. These are sweated be- 

 neath a layer of fine sand, dried, roughly powdered, and then 

 packed in netted bags or skins for transport, in which form 

 it serves as an important article of barter with neighboring 

 tribes. Before use the pituri is damped, mixed with the 

 ashes of the leaves and twigs of certain shrubs, usually those 

 of the Acacia salicina (certainly in the district from which 

 the specimen used for analysis came, and jjrobably in others), 

 and rolled up into a "plug."' This is ,chewed, the saliva 

 swallowed, and if the natives are in company, the plug is 

 handed from one to another. 



Pituri is also employed in Central Australia for poisoning 

 emus, even in parts w^here it is not used for mastication. For 

 this purpose a bundle of the twigs is placed in a small water- 

 hole. On drinking the water the birds become stupefied, when 

 they are easily killed. 



The pituri plant is restricted to Australia, and is of scattered 

 occurrence throughout the dry zone, mainly between S. lat. 

 27 and 21. The wood ash is probably mixed with the pitruri 

 for the purpose of slowly liberating the alkoloid (piturine, C-^o 

 H^g No) contained in it during the process of mastication. 

 This is brought about by the alkali contained in the ash y 

 in this case caustic lime. 



