MURRUMBIDGEE, LOWER LACHLAN, AND LOWER DARLING. 43 
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hand, the rest is laid straight across the thigh and kept apart by 
one of the fingers of the hand holding the ends ; the palm of the 
right hand is now moistened and placed over the flax on the thigh, 
when it is rubbed sharply towards the knee. By this action, both 
of the flax hanks are twisted into firm threads, the finger which 
had kept the hanks apart is now withdrawn, and the right hand 
is pulled back with a sharp jerk, which results in the two threads 
) is now teased out, and the end of another hank is mixed 
with it, the two rubbing actions being again performed with a like 
result, so it continues, two rubs and a join alternately. 
This process they will continue hour after hour, until the thigh 
becomes quite painful to the slightest touch ; the thread-making 
is therefore thrown aside until the tender limb returns to 1ts 
normal condition. ‘ 
0 
cure flax. 
low down as to impinge on the flooded ground on whic 
sandhills usually abut, but still near enough thereto to receive th 
benefit pf the water by capillary attraction. As it grows, this 
rush is a rigid, harsh-looking plant, without the flexibility common 
Soaked in watér for two days. When the soaking has been pro- 
perly effected, it is placed in an oven and baked for four hours—it 
°F lishing-lines, having the power to resist the rotting influence of 
The next and last of their cord-making plants is the giant- 
mallow ; the fibre from this plant is of a much coarser texture 
