1337.] Account of the New Colony of Western Australia, 321 



obtained in the Swan river in some quantities, the natives roast them 

 in the ashes and eat them. Frogs (" cooyah"'), of two or three species, 

 are eaten, chiefly at the season of their spawning. Grubs of different 

 kinds are eaten raw or slightly roasted ; the eggs of the ant also form 

 an article of food. Of the vegetables on which they feed a few kinds 

 only are known ; the following, however, are more used than any 

 other, and may be said to form the staple article of diet : boom, wye- 

 ing, matta and sudening bean boovulerang, a species of yam which 

 they are very fond of ; the boom are scarlet roots, not unlike in shape 

 and size to tulip roots. They roast them in the ashes, anr) theR pound 

 them between two flat stones, rubbing the latter with a ball of earth 

 to prevent the root adhering to it ; when thus prepared they are 

 mucilaginous and of a glossy black colour ; they may be considered 

 the bread of the natives who live near the coast. The wyMigisof 

 the tribe orchideoe; it is very pleasant eating when r tasked. The 

 mutta is the small bulbous root of a rush ; it is very fibrous, and only- 

 edible at one season ; the roots of fern, sedge, and other plants, are also 

 used as articles of food ; also mushrooms of two species, and 

 another kind of fungus. When the different species of banksia 

 first come into bloom, they collect from the flowers a considerable quan- 

 tity of honey, of which the natives are particularly fond, and garher 

 large quantities of the flowers " monca" to suck ; it is not, however, 

 always to be procured : the best time is in the morning, when 

 much dew is deposited on the ground j also in cloudy but not wet 

 weather. 



The natives at Swan river live upon the productions of nature,unassist- 

 ed by art, varying at different seasons and in different districts ; poor in 

 quality, often scanty, and therefore compelling the natives to a vagrant 

 life. The population consequently is far from numerous — they have 

 no general chief, and associate and disperse as season or inclination 

 leads them. Their wars appear to be more between individuals or fa" 

 milies, than between tribes or districts. There are numerous subdivi- 

 sions into tribes and classes, who appear to have little bond of union 

 between them ; the men go two or three together, unless they have 

 some particular object in view ; they are extremely jealous of their 

 food, concealing and eating it silently and secretly ; yet if others are 

 present they usually give a small portion. When they are successful 

 in hunting or fishing, they instantly make a fire, and eat a portion of 

 their fish or game ; the married men generally reserve a share for their 

 wives. Of the children they appear to be very fond, and rarely chastise 

 them j but their treatment of the women is not always so gentle, and 



