aborigines’ water-quest. 
657 
SCRATCHING AND SINKING FOR WATER. 
Frequently there is water at comparatively slight distances below 
the surface of the sandy bed of surface-dry rivers and creeks, no sign 
of such water being noted in the bed. Natives, dingoes, emus, 
explorers, cattle, and horses all have learned this in Central Australia’s 
wilds, and in this way, by scratching, digging, or pawing, they obtain 
supplies. Fresh water is often found in the sand of the sea-shore on 
the southern coast of Australia ; and in the Port Lincoln district, near 
where Flinders first secured water, it is found spouting up out of 
sand-covered rock, so far below high-water mark as at every returning 
tide to be covered by the sea. 
NATIVES. 
The presence of natives is an indication to whites and “ strange” 
natives of the proximity of water in some of the forms referred to. 
Signal and camp smokes are always an indication of natives and water, 
though the natives may be difficult to find, as they travel quickly and 
hide, if wuld and in fear. 
WATER-POISONING. 
At times natives “doctor” or poison some supplies of water, 
specially those to which emus resort to drink ; their purpose is to stupefy 
the game thereby, that it may be more readily captured. A variety of 
“Nightshade,” locally known on the Paroo as “Native Myrtle,” is 
there used for this purpose. In places in Central Australia the native 
tobacco ( Pituri ) is similarly used. In the Northern Territory the 
inner bark of a tree is used, but particulars are not yet available. 
Leichhardt speaks of waters accidentally rendered poisonous through 
having (in ignorance of their properties) the seeds of a variety of 
Acacia soaked in them. 
WATER-CARRYING. 
Natives carry water for domestic use in vessels when they wish to 
camp at a distance from water supply for the purpose of hunting or 
seed or root gathering. The coolamin, a vessel hollowed out of wood, 
is in most general use. Another vessel seen was a hollow log some 
15 inches in length, with one end “ stopped ” with string, rubbish, 
and clay. An observer noted a vessel (north-west of the lakes in South 
Australia) in which water w*as being carried, which was taken to be 
made of dingo skin, having only one opening, and having the hair side 
inwards. Skins of kangaroos, of large wallabies, and of opossums seem 
to have been iu general use. In the Northern Territory an unusually 
large vessel, like a coffin in shape, six or seven feet long, hollowed out 
like a canoe, borne by two men, was seen in use for water-carrying. It 
was made of bean wood. Lubras (Charlotte Waters, South Australia), 
when carrying their coolamin filled with water, use a rope of fur or 
hair wound into a ring and placed on the top of the head ; the coolamin 
resting safely in the cup or hollow formed by the ring of rope, enabling 
the bearer to walk erect, at the same time giving free use of the 
hands for other purposes. A coolamin of average size was found on 
test to have a holding capacity of some two gallons. A hollow root 
of old mulga has been seen in use for water-carrying, but tins is not 
usual. Mallee-roots, with one end stopped with clay, for water- 
carrying, have been already noted. 
