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The botanical researches of Mr. Bailey and Baron von Mueller 
will supply valuable information towards elucidating the interesting 
question of ancient relationship between Australia and the vast 
mysterious and fascinating island lying Avithin 100 miles of where our 
North Cape stands, grim and silent, behind its rampart of rugged 
rocks broad based in the sea-green surges of the Coral Ocean. 
The flora and fauna of the Cape York Peninsula, especially north 
from Princess Charlotte Bay, are comparatively unknown ; and we have 
yet to learn if anywhere between Belienden-Ker and Cape York there 
exist any distinctive animal or vegetable links closely associating us with 
our mighty neighbour. There is now no longer a doubt that Wooroo- 
nooran possesses a flora peculiarly its own. Among Mr. Bailey's new 
species are some not likely to be found anywhere else. The whole 
range is clothed in dense tropical jungle from base to summit, there 
not being a single open space fifty feet square, except a batch of ferns 
on the south spur at 2,700 feet, and a few hundred yards of forest on 
the west spurs of Mounts Sophia and Toressa. Among the specimens 
collected were 110 different species of ferns and tv/enty-six different 
orchids. We found thirty-eight species of edible fruits, some of them 
very nutritious and of very agreeable flavours. The choisest of them 
will yet be cultivated and run a close competition for popularity with 
the best of our civilised fruits. Among them is the Citrus inodorous, 
or Scentless Lemon, named by Bailey, a tree with rich, dark-green 
fohage, bearing a fruit the size of a small lemon, with a sharp, agree- 
able, acid taste, and very refreshing. We also found Acronychia 
acidula, or Scortechini's Crab, a form of which is found on the Logan, 
where attention was called to its usefulness by the late Eev. Father 
Scortechini. Among the smaller fruits were five species of native 
i grapes belonging to the order Viiis^ the wild tamarind, two quandougs, 
I called " Curroogi" by the blacks ; the Burdekin Plum, " Bomban" and 
\"Eancooran" of the natives ; five species of edible beans, six nuts, 
Vhree cherries, one blackberry, one raspberry, one loquat, four figs, one 
geebung, and one nutmeg. JNTone of the large fruits were available 
except the inangosteen, as the superb specimens seen on my first 
ascent 'm Pebruary helongto^^e summer months. We found the 
Herbert Eiver Cherry heavily laden with 
ripe fruit, which is pleasant to eat in the raw state, and can be 
turned into excellent jam or jelly. There also in great abundance was 
/ Davidso7na pruriens, or Davidson's Plum, a blue-black plum the size 
of a duck egg, the interior a rich bright-purple juicy pulp, a sharp 
acid, very pleasant flavour, a remarkably refreshing fruit, with the 
happiest effect in assisting digestion. It is a great favourite of the 
cassowary, who marches round daily to pick up the fallen fruit. 
Principal of the nuts is the Coa, a round, clean nut as big as the 
largest walnut, growing on a tree which attains an immense size. 
This nut is often confounded with the Col, a small red fruit growing 
on a climber, and eaten by the blacks after cooking on hot stones. 
In the first the accent is on the " o," and in the second on the " i." The 
Coa is eaten raw, and is a ])alatable and nutritious fruit. The natives 
regard it with special favour. The loquat, known as the Cooktown 
Loquat {Bliodoiuyrtus macrocarpa) , is an edible red juicy fruit, eaten 
with gusto by all the frugivorous birds. One of the Eugenias 
{E. cormijlora) bears all along the trunk a large pink and white fruit, 
called "Murroo" by the blacks, who eat it occasionally, though rather 
