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CHAPTER VIII. 



Bredalbane Plains — Forest country — Cockatoos and parrots 

 — Peculiar species of the lizard tribe— Medicinal trees — 

 Bark of the wattle trees — Mr. Manton's farm — Picturesque 

 view — Yas plains — Encampment of natives — Stringy bark, 

 or box tree — Use of that plant — Native method of cooking 

 — The Australian negro — Game — The flying squirrel — 

 Human chimney-ornaments — Cloaks of opossum or kan- 

 garoo skins — Barbarous ceremonies — Women not admitted 

 to the confidence of the males. 



On the 3rd of October we resumed our journey, 

 taking a bush path for a short distance, until 

 we emerged upon " Bredalbane Plains,"" a great 

 portion of which is very swampy, and during 

 heavy rains overflown. Passing a cattle station, 

 the property of Mr. Chisholm, we had a view of 

 another plain, or more correctly marsh, (named 

 the third Bredalbane Plain,) abounding in reeds; 

 here several birds of the heron species, known by 

 the name of the "native companion," {Ardea 



