FLESH OF THE KANGAROO. !289 



around the front part of the head, being tied 

 behind by strings of the same material : it is 

 worn by males and females, and coloured with 

 red ochre or pipe-clay, according to the taste of 

 the wearer ; the stock-keepers value the tendons 

 for whip-lashes, and say nothing can surpass 

 them for durability. 



The part of the kangaroo most esteemed for 

 eating is the loins ; and the tail, which abounds 

 in gelatine, furnishes an excellent and nourishing 

 soup; the hind legs are coarse, and usually fall 

 to the share of the dogs. The natives (if they can 

 be said to have a choice) give a preference to the 

 head. The flesh of the full-grown animal may 

 be compared to lean beef, and that of the young 

 to veal ; they are destitute of fat, if we except a 

 little being occasionally seen between the muscles 

 and integuments of the tail. The colonial dish 

 called a steamer, consists of the flesh of this 

 animal dressed, with slices of ham. The liver, 

 when cooked, is crisp and dry, and is considered 

 a substitute for bread ; but I cannot coincide in 

 this opinion. 



While visiting the " BlowrinFlat," on hunt- 

 ing and other excursions, I frequently observed 

 marks upon the grass where kangaroos had been 

 herding ; at one place the grass was beaten 

 down, and a quantity of their fur strewed about 



VOL, I. u 



