BY FRITZ NOETLING, PH.D., ETC. I07 



It is very probable that the heavy loamy soil result- 

 ing from the weathering of volcanic rocks was the Ben- 

 ga-na or Man-na-na, considering its wide distribution 

 all over Tasmania. The whitish clay, the Pan-oga-na 

 maleetye and the Man-na-na mallye most probably re- 

 present the pipeclay so frequently found. It is there- 

 fore unquestionable that these words refer solely to an 

 argillaceous soil. 



4. CRYSTAL. — In Calder's Vocabulary two names- 

 are given under the heading crystal, viz.,' 



Southern Tribes — Keeka. 

 Northern Tribes — ^^Heka. 



There can be no doubt that both words are identical, 

 but it is impossible to say what kind of crystal they refer 

 to. The most probable theory is that they stand for 

 quartz-crystal, though crystalhsed quartz is by no means 

 of frequent occurrence in Tasmania. We must, there- 

 fore, leave the meaning of the word an open question. 



5. FREESTONE. — This is the popular name given 

 to that kind of rock which is geologically known as 

 " sandstone." The sandstone of Tasmania is almost ex- 

 clusively, if not all, of Permian age, and some of its 

 varieties form an excellent building stone. In fact, be- 

 fore 'the introduction of the kiln-burnt brick it was the 

 only building stone used in Tasmania. The houses were 

 ehher constructed of wood or the more substantial ones 

 0I Freestone. This rock played therefore an important 

 part in the life of the early settlers, and it is hardly to 

 be wondered at that they enquired for its native name. 



MilHgan gives the following names :r^ 



Eastern Tribes — Boatta or potha malleetye. 



Southern Tribes — Potta mallya. 



North and West Tribes — ^Ponin-galee. ' 



We see at once that it is a compound word, and the 

 word as used by the Eastern and Southern tribes leaves 

 no doubt that the attribute means "' white " or " whitish." 

 "White potta," the freestone was called by the Abo- 

 rigines, and as far as colour goes this attribute is qnite 

 correct. 



