250 
VARIETIES 
made use of, but the smaller ones generally are se- 
lected, such as vary in diameter from an inch down- 
wards. The roots being dug up, the bark is peeled 
off and roasted crisp in hot ashes; it is then pounded 
between two stones, and has a pleasant farinaceous 
taste, strongly resembling that of malt. I have often 
seen the natives eating this, and have frequently 
eaten it myself in small quantities. How far it alone 
would support life, or sustain a man in strength, I 
have of course no means of forming an opinion ; 
but it is, probably, only resorted to when other food 
is scarce. Several of the roots of other shrubs are 
also used for food, and some of them are mucila- 
ginous and very palatable. 
Throughout the greater portion of New Holland, 
where there do not happen to be European settlers, 
and invariably where fresh water can be per- 
manently procured upon the surface, the native 
experiences no difficulty whatever in procuring 
food in abundance all the year round. It is true 
that the character of his diet varies with the chang- 
ing seasons, and the formation of the country he 
inhabits ; but it rarely happens that any season of 
the year, or any description of country does not 
yield him both animal and vegetable food. Amongst 
the almost unlimited catalogue of edible articles 
used by the natives of Australia, the following may 
be classed as the chief : — all salt and fresh-water 
fish and shell-fish, of which, in the larger rivers, 
there are Vast numbers and many species ; fresh- 
