35 
Speaking of the blacks of the interior of Queensland, Mr. E. Palmer says 
the small branches of Eucalyptus microtheca F.v.M. (the " Coolibah " or " Flooded 
Box"), are cut up, and, with the leaves, are laid in water for several days to sicken 
the fish ; it is universally used for the purpose. 
It is very likely that this is the tree referred to by Sir Thomas Mitchell. 
See also p. 21. 
As regards the use of Mahogany leaves (E. resinifera Sm.), see Part III, 
p. 190. 
It is not likely that these species of Eucalyptus act other than through their 
astringent properties, and it is very probable that, given a favourite fishing ground, 
the aborigines choose what they consider the most suitable of the Eucalypts in the 
immediate neighbourhood. 
The bark of the so-called Fresh Water Mangrove (Barrinytonia racemosa 
Gaud.) is a fish poison of the natives of the Mitchell River, Northern Queensland. 
Mr. E. Palmer says the native name for the tree is " Yakooro," and that the blacks 
cut up the bark into small pieces, hammer it fine on a stone, and then place it 
in water. 
Dr. Roth's version is 
The bark is hammered between stones till it gets quite spongy, and then taken into the water, 
where it is rubbed with the hands. Fish are stupefied in about a quarter of an hour. BlooinfteM 
(R. Hislop), Cooktown. (E. Palmer speaks of its use on the Mitchell, Laura, and Lynd Rivers.) (North 
Queensland Ethnography, Bull. No. 3, Roth.) 
Barringtonia sperioaa Linn, f., which is also a native of Queensland, does 
not appear to be used by Australian aborigines as a "fish poison ; but the Fijians so 
employ it, according to Seemann, and they use the outer portion of the fruit, and 
not the bark. This observation has been confirmed by many other observers, the 
fruit being so employed in many South Sea Islands. See Wikstroemia, below. 
Careya australis F.v.M., is a myrtaceous tree, and is closely allied to the 
two preceding plants. The bark was used by the aborigines of Cleveland Bay, 
Queensland, for stupefying fish, in fresh or salt water. I believe Murrell, a ship- 
wrecked sailor, is the authority for this statement. Mr. E. Palmer, however, gives 
a little additional information, when he states that the blacks on the Burdekin use 
the bark of the stem to poison fish in fresh water, and the bark of the root for salt 
water. There is, perhaps, a sufficient reason for this discrimination, and it would 
be well if some local resident would explain the matter. 
Mr. E. J. Banfield calls it the " Karoo," and says the bark at the base of the 
trunk and roots is the part used. He says the modus' 'operandi is somewhat similar 
to that employed in the case of Derris. 
Cucurbitaceae. 
A kind of towel-gourd (Luffa cegyptiacq. Miller), whose native name on 
the Mitchell is " Bun-Bun," is used to poison fish when green, according fa 
Mr. E. Palmer. 
