22 AUSTRALIAN^ ABORIGINES. 



In summer, when the surface of the gi-ound is parched, and the marshes 

 dried up, the natives carry a long reed perforated from end to end, which they 

 push down the holes made by crabs in swamps, and suck up the water. Wlien 

 obliged to drink from muddy pools full of animalcute, they put a full-blown 

 cone of the banksia tree into their mouths, and drink through it, which gives a 

 fine flavour to the water, and excludes impurities. The name of the cone, when 

 used for this purpose, is tatteen mirng neung weeriitch gnat — ' drink eye 

 banksia tree belonging to.' 



The southern portions of Australia are remarkably deficient in native fruits, 

 and the only kind deserving the name is a berry which the aborigines of the 

 locality call ' nurt,' resembling a red-cheeked cherry without the pip, which 

 grows abundantly on a creeper amongst the sand on the hummocks near the 

 mouth of the River Glenelg. It is very much sought after, and, when ripe, is 

 gathered in great quantities by the natives, who come from long distances to 

 feast on it, and reside in the locality while it lasts. In collecting the berries 

 they pull up the plants, which run along the surface of the sand in great 

 lengths, and carry them on their backs to their camps to pick oS" the fruit 

 at their leisure. On the first settlement of the district by sheepowners these 

 berries were gathered by the white people, and they made excellent jam and 

 tarts. 



There are strict rules regulating the distribution of food. When a hunter 

 brings game to the camp he gives up all claim to it, and must stand aside 

 and allow the best portions to be given away, and content himself with the 

 worst. If he has a brother present, the brother is treated iiji the same way, and 

 helps the kUler of the game to eat the poor pieces, which are thrown to them, 

 such as the forequarters and ribs of the kangaroos, opossums, and small 

 quadrupeds, and the backbones of birds. The narrator of this custom mentioned 

 that when he was very young he used to grumble because his father gave away 

 all the best pieces of birds and quadrupeds, and the finest eels, but he was told 

 that it was a rule and must be observed. This custom is called yuurka 

 baawhaar, meaniag ' exchange ;' and, to show the strict observance of it, and 

 the punishment for its infringement, they tell a story of a mean fellow named 

 Wirtpa Mit, signifying ' selfish,' who lived on kangaroos, which were very scarce 

 in those days. When he killed one he ate it all himself, and would not give 

 away a morsel. This conduct so displeased his friends that they resolved to 

 punish him, but as it was difiicult to do so without infringing the laws of the 



