aborigines’ water- quest. 
655 
Water Frog . — Like the camel, when “topped up” by his Arab 
master for a long journey, the “ Water Frog” of Ceutral Australia 
gorges himself quite full of water, against a dry seasou, whilst the 
water is still about him. He then buries himself deep down in the 
soft mud at the bottom of his watery abode — the mud dries up, and 
becomes thoroughly caked all round him. Thus ho solstitiates until 
the next rainy season comes round again and releases him . — Horn 
Scientific Exploring Expedition . 
DEW. 
The aboriginal has learned to avail himself of every possible 
source of supply of water in his fight for existence in ungenerous 
country. He knows that in certain regions a special desirable form 
of food supply may be enjoyed, if only he can also have water whilst 
roaming through that hunting-ground. Amongst such sources of 
supply he avails himself freely in parts of the water- store afforded 
by “the gentle dew.” The sweet, cool Aurora, with tender com- 
passion for the dusky wanderer, hangs on grass and reed and shrub 
the day’s store of grateful water in the sparkling drops of clear fresh 
dew, which the eager native gather* into his spacious coolamin. Going 
abroad before the sunrise, he gathers with sweep of arm or tap of 
stick the hanging dew-drops for his frugal supply. Sometimes a 
handful of soft dry grass, pressed into a ball-shape, is swept as a 
sponge over the dew-laden grass, and its gathered store squeezed into 
his vessel ; or the catching utensil is held close under the dew-laden 
twigs of tree or shrub, and a gentle tap rains the drops down for his 
store. In the western regions of Australia, along the great southern 
coast, bark vessels are much used for water-bearing. The sandalwood- 
tree is specially useful as a dew-bearing tree, yielding a wonderful 
supply of this dew-water from its leaves. Quite a good driuk may be 
be obtained from it with a suitable catchment vessel. 
Ed. John Eyre (vol. i., p. 361) states that he gathered thus a 
quart of water in an hour in these regions from spangles of dew 
hanging on grass and shrub. 
Thos. Brown, Esq., of Nullabor Plains (S.A.), narrates that a 
black lad came to him when twenty miles out in the scrub belt, and 
gave him to understand that he (the boy) had come in from a point 
from whence it was only possible to have come by traversing en route 
an absolutely waterless belt of couutrv. The lad said further that 
two gins and a picanniny were also coming after him across the plains, 
and would come in the following day. The lad then joined the 
station blacks’ camp. Marvelling at the episode, Mr. Brown inquired 
from the other blacks how the strange blacks got water for their 
journey across the plains. Their reply was, “ Get water off the 
grass” (or, perhaps, shook the bushes). 
There are very heavy dews along the Australian Bight coastline, 
and at times these extend far back into the scrub belts. Both 
kangaroo and dingo obtain water for their needs in these same 
regions by running through the dew-laden grass with their tongues 
hanging out, lapping in the moisture so gathered as they move. 
Bushmen may learn a very useful lesson here which might prove of 
service in case of need. 
