266 BUGONG MOUNTAIN. 



months of November, December, and Janu- 

 ary, are quite a season of festivity among the 

 native blacks, who assemble from far and near 

 to collect the Bugong ; the bodies of these 

 insects, contain a quantity of oil, and they are 

 sought after as a luscious and fattening food. 

 I felt very desirous of investigating the places 

 where these insects were said to congregate in 

 such incredible quantities, and availed myself of 

 the earliest opportunity to do so. 



I was prevented, by the unfavourable state of 

 the weather, from undertaking the journey until 

 the 12th of December, at dawn of which day, 

 accompanied by a stock-keeper and some of the 

 blacks, I commenced my excursion. The day 

 was fine ; and by taking a circuitous path on 

 the declivities of the hills, we were able to ascend 

 on horseback.* After riding over the lower 

 ranges,' we arrived a short distance above the 

 base of the Bugong Mountain, tethered the horses, 

 and ascended on foot, by a steep and rugged path, 

 which led us to the first summit of the mountain ; 

 at this place, called Gunundery by the natives, 

 enormous masses of granite rock, piled one 



* A small species of Xanthorrhcea., or yellow gum tree, 

 called Modandara by the aborigines, was abundant on the 

 ranges. The bases of the young leaves of this plant are 

 eaten by the natives, and the taste is agreeable. 



