104 



FOOD OF THE ABOKIGINES OF CENTRAL AUSTKALIA, 



8. "Physical Geography and Climate of New South Wales," 

 hy H. C. Russell, B.A., F.R.A.S., etc. Sydney 1884. From the 

 Author. 



The following Papers were read : — 



EOOD OP THE ABORIGINES OE CENTRAL 



AUSTRALIA. 



BY 



J. BANCROFT, Esq., M.D. 



(Read on the 18th August, 1884J. 



Five small packets were forwarded from Mr. W. A. Dare, of 

 Kalamurina, Warburton River, South Australia, to the Editor 

 of the Sydney Town and Country Journal, who has submitted 

 them to me. 



No. 1. Packet of Pituki. — The usual form of the dried, bruised 

 leaves of the Pituri-tree. It contains no seeds. No live plant 

 of this interesting narcotic is yet to be found in any of the 

 public or private gardens of Australia. I have several times 

 received seeds from Mr. Barrington, and entrusted them to 

 experienced gardeners, but the seedlings damp off in a most 

 vexatious manner 



No. 2. Packet of Nardoo Fruits. — Oval, dark-brown capsules 

 of Marsilea Drummondii A.Br. The Nardoo is a flowerless 

 plant, related to ferns, growing in swamps, looking like a sham- 

 rock with four leaves ; at times floating on the top of water, 

 but erect as the swamps become dry. 



The capsules grow on the creeping stems of the plant, and, 

 when broken, are found to contain yellow egg-shaped spores. 

 These spores contain much starch. 



The bruised capsules, when boiled, become a dark porridge, 

 without offensive smell or taste. 



The greatest difficulty in preparing this food would be the 

 breaking of the capsules, which are very hard. The aborigines 

 bruise them between stones, and remove the blacK husks from 

 the yellow, powdery, starchy spores. It is said that the Nardoo 

 may be swept up in plenty from the dried swamps. There is 

 an interesting account of Nardoo in Brough Smyth's excellent 

 work on the aborigines. Mr. Samuel Gayson, of Cooper's Creek, 

 gives the name as " Ardoo." 



