280 
MODE OF HUNTING 
has recently been there, he then ascends the tree to 
look for it ; this, if the tree be in a leaning po- 
sition, or has a rough bark, is not difficult to him, 
and he rarely requires any other aid than his hands 
and feet ; but if the bark be smooth, and the tree 
straight, or of very large dimensions, he requires 
the assistance of his stone hatchet, or of a strong 
sharp-pointed stick, flattened on one side near the 
point (called in the Adelaide dialect, “ Wadna,” in 
that of Moorunde “ Ngakko,”) ; with this instru- 
ment a notch is made in the bark about two feet 
above the ground. In this the small toes of the left 
foot are placed, the left arm is employed in clasping 
the trunk of the tree, and the right in cutting an- 
other notch for the right foot, about two feet above 
the first ; but a little to one side of it, the wadna or 
ngakko is now stuck firmly in the bark above, and 
serves to enable him to raise the body whilst gaining 
the second notch, into which the ball of the great 
toe of the right foot is placed, and the implement 
liberated to make a third step on the left side, and 
so on successively until the tree is ascended. The 
descent is made in the same manner, by clasping the 
tree, and supporting the feet in the notches. The 
principle of climbing in the way described, appears 
to consist in always having three points of contact 
with the tree, either two arms and one leg, or two 
legs and one arm. 
Having got up the tree, the native proceeds to 
search for any holes there may be in its trunk, or 
