USEFUL PRODUCTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 25 



arbor," to be found in Hernandez, might be a possible version of 

 Anacabuite. " Cabuite " is simply a Spanish corruption of Quahuitl = 

 tree, which always occurs in that form in modern Mexican names ; but I 

 am unable to say what " Ana " may be traced back to. Hernandez gives a 

 brief description of this plant, and a rude woodcut ; according to which, it 

 is a large tree with alternate simple lanceolate or elliptical leaves, said to 

 be slightly scented and bitter ; and " decorti jus matutino liberalius ebibitum, 

 Gallieo medetur morbo" Of course, nothing can be made out of this 

 account in the present state of the case ; but it may become intelligible 

 when we shall have received specimens and more information from 

 Mexico. Mr Alexander Smith, at Kew, a few days ago directed my atten- 

 tion to Emory's Report, ii., p. 135, where Dr Torrey, on enumerating Cordia 

 Boissieri, Alp. De Cand. (found by Edwards and Gregg near Monterey, by 

 Thurber at New Leon, by Schott on the Rio Grande, all places on the 

 east coast of Mexico, a few degrees north of Tampico, whence we obtain 

 the wood), says — " The Mexicans call this plant ' Nacahuita.' Dr Gregg 

 says that the fruit is eaten by cattle and hogs, and that a decoction of the 

 leaves is used for pains in the limbs." The two names (Anacahuite and 

 Nacahuita) are sufficiently alike to justify further inquiry. At the same 

 time, it is necessary to state that there is only a distant resemblance 

 between the leaves of Cordia Boissieri, of which there are fine specimens 

 in Sir W. J. Hooker's herbarium, and the rude woodcut furnished in the 

 Roman edition of Hernandez's work, leaving it quite an open question 

 whether the two be identical or distinct. 



USEFUL PRODUCTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 



BY H. DRUMMOND. 



Of the blackboy (Xanthorrhcea) there are several varieties. The glau- 

 cous-leaved York blackboy is, however, the most important, and grows 

 thirty feet in height, without a branch. It is considered by the settlers 

 the best material for thatch, and the young slender leaves are found to be 

 an agreeable vegetable, and also serve as fodder for horses, goats, sheep, and 

 cattle. The natives are particularly fond of the blackboy, and frequently 

 refuse any other nourishment, whilst its sound old flower-stalks furnish 

 them with the means of obtaining a light by friction. 



The native yam, of the class Dioscorea, is stated to be the finest 

 esculent vegetable the colony produces. The fungi are also palatable to 

 the aborigines : one species belonging to this order, the Boletus, is remark- 

 able for possessing the properties of German tinder when well dried, and 

 for emitting a radiant light in its natural state. 



A climbing species of the Thjsanotus, near the Moore River, is much 

 used by the natives as food. The madge and the guardine are roots from 



