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person. Their chests and arms were covered with red ochre, 

 and a line of white down, attached by means of human blood, 

 formed a half-circle, extending from one arm-pit to the other. 

 The hair was tied back, in some cases forming a long chignon, 

 and decorated with hawk's feathers (leracidea herigora) . Two 

 of these men carried fire-sticks, which they waved to keep 

 alight. They held a round green object between their lips, 

 which at first sight appeared to be a green Sohininn fruit, 

 but afterwards was found to be a ball of native tobacco (a 

 new variety named by Mr. Black Nicotiana suaveolens excel- 

 sior), which stained their lips a yellowish-green colour; in 

 fact, one or two of these natives had the liquid running down 

 the corners of their mouths and over their lips, giving them 

 a decidedly savage appearance. After taking some photo- 

 graphs and giving these natives some presents, we moved on, 

 with them in close attendance. As soon as we got outside 

 the neck they began firing the porcupine grass, and, upon 

 making enquiry, signified by signs that they were letting 

 their people know in which direction we were travelling. 



We were following a fair-sized creek, sometimes along 

 the dry sandy bed and at others through great masses of 

 porcupine grass (commonly but erroneously called spinifex). 

 This has proved to be a new species, and will be found in 

 Mr. Black's paper under Triodia aristata. Redgums lined 

 the dry watercourses, but not one was of any great size. This 

 class of country continued till we got clear of the main 

 ranges, when we left the creek and struck out over level 

 country covered by mulga, with high rugged detached hills, 

 on which grew porcupine grass. During the afternoon our 

 course was through similar country, in which innumerable 

 holes showed where thc' natives had been digging out the 

 sugar-ants. When these holes were pointed out to the natives, 

 who were in close attendance, they would nod their heads and 

 say "Woma," meaning sugar-ant. While out collecting 

 during the day I was followed all the time by several natives, 

 all in single file, who placed their feet in my footprints, and 

 thus avoided the prickly-burrs which strewed the sandy soil, 

 as my boots had the effect of pressing the sharp thorny seeds 

 deeply into the sand. The natives drew my attention to any 

 object of interest by a ''hm, hm," sounded through the nose, 

 and on looking round the nearest native pointed to a high 

 point in the range and said "Carmeena" (the name of the 

 mountain), and pointing downwards, meaning at the foot, 

 repeatedly said ''Carmen," meaning tobacco, which was grow- 

 ing at the foot of the range. Another time he pointed to a 

 rounded hill and said "Punderanna coppe," the last word 

 meaning water. At other times they pointed to a dog's tracks 



