i/i jjaiiiculfir of the Port Lincoln. District. 173 



blacks cat only llie fruit of tins plant, but those living bc- 

 t\\ ccn the Grampians and the Victoria Kangcs^ as a snbstitutc 

 for salt with their meat, eat also the leaves of this saline 

 plant. All other edible fruit grow in pods, or in the shape of 

 berries on small bushes. Some of these they allow to ripen, 

 as, for instance, the fruit of the santalnm and that of a species 

 of epacris, Avhich, growing on the sea-shore, bears small red 

 sweet berries called " wadnirri.'' Another plant, " karambi,'^ 

 also growing on the sea-shore, is the NUrarlu blUurdlerlir^- 

 Other fruits they collect before they are ripe, and roast 

 them in hot ashes, such as the berries of the pulbullu, 

 and the pods of the meuka, and the nundo. The last-men- 

 tioned fruits, highly valued l)y the natives, are of the acacias, 

 growing abundantly on the sandy downs of Sheaford and Cof- 

 fin^s Bay, and by attracting thither a numerous company of 

 blacks, they frequently give occasion for dissension and quar- 

 rels. As a proof of the value or consideration attached to this 

 fruit, it may be mentioned that, in order to annoy their 

 adversaries, the Knkata tribe of the north-Avest, famous for 

 their atrocity and Avitcheraft, often threaten to burn or otlier- 

 Avise destroy the nundo bushes. 



As only few gum-trees groAv in Port Lincoln, they haAC but 

 little of the edible gums upon Avliich the Adelaide tribes live 

 almost exclusively during the summer months ; what they get 

 they collect from the acacia trees, Avhich, hoAvever, groAv but 

 sparingly, yielding very little gum. 



Any kind of game, from the kangaroo doAvn to the smallest 

 species of the genus of the marsupials, and every description 

 of birds, Avithout distinction, are Avelcome as food to the Port 

 Lincoln blacks, nor are snakes and lizards by any means de- 

 spised by them — the former of Avhich they eat only if killed by 



■•' The Nifraria billanJifn'i hehmga to the order of Jlaljiif/hiacca', groAVs 

 in large quantities on high sancUiills along the western sea-coast of Port 

 Lincoln, lias a frnit in form and size resembling an olive, is of a dark red 

 color, has a very pleasant taste, and is exceedingly cooling. In December 

 and .January the bushes are so full of fruit, tliat the natives lie down on 

 their backs under them, strip off the fruit with both hands, and do not 

 rise until the whole bush has l)een cleared of its load. At the time above 

 mentioned I travelled with Jive natives, who carried my collection of plants 

 and blaiilvets on a very hot day thrt)Ugh this arid country ; all at once they 

 threw off their loads, ran as quickly as they were able to one of the high 

 sandhills, and disajipearcd amongst the bushes. Not knowing the meaning 

 of all this, 1 followed tliem, and found the wludc live, as above described, 

 lying on their backs under the bushes. I could not do better than do so 

 likewise, and when we had refreshed ourselves we continued our journey. 



