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I wrote to Mr. Hunt, of Burdcnda, Dandaloo, at Mr. Eavenc’s suggestion, 
and that gentleman kindly sent me a twig of Yarran. 
Later on, under date 28th December, 1906, a letter from me in the 
Sydney Morning Herald contained the following passage : — 
On August 25 last Mr. Favenc had an interesting article on “ Scrub ” in the Herald, in which 
the following passage occurs:—“Other trees of the same species (genus), the Narran, &c., seldom grow 
so dense or close as to be impenetrable to a rider.” He had been referring to Myall, so that Narran is a 
Wattle. I wrote to Mr. Favenc, and, following up clues that he gave, wrote to certain people, and they 
sent me twigs of Yarran ( Acacia homalophylla). I also wrote to a Queensland friend, but without result. 
Now, I have occasionally, though very rarely, heard the name Narran used both in New'South 
Wales and Queensland, but my efforts to trace this Wattle have never met with success. I venture to ask 
your readers if they can send me a 6-inch twig of Narran, otherwise I must begin a second twenty years’ 
search after this botanical “ will o’ the wisp.” 
To this letter a number of replies were received, amongst others the following 
two:— 
There is no such limber as Narran in this Colony or Queensland. Beyond a river of that name 
the word Narran is almost unknown. We have Brigalow Creek, Gum Flats, Myall Hollows, Mulga 
Scrubs, and so on, but never, as an out-and-out bushman, traversing the bowels of New South Wales 
and Queensland, have I even heard of Narran. False names, through faulty pronunciation, may 
deceive an ordinary layman, but never a bushman. Hence Narran is undoubtedly meant for 
Yarran. There are many bushes (scrub) for which I admit even the bushman has no name. But 
nothing growing approaching a tree in the strict sense of the term has been left unchristened.—(James 
Frederick.) 
Referring to the paragraph “ What is Narran T It must be Yarran that is meant, but in some 
parts the blacks may call it Narran. I have never heard it so called anywhere. 
I am a native of the Colony, and until the last twenty years was in the country—boy and man — 
over forty years.—(James Stain way.) 
As to the geographical name Narran we have the following :— 
Narran, a large swamp and river of New South Wales. It was discovered by Sir T. L. Mitchell 
in 1846. Narran Swamp is situated 26 mll-s beyond the River Darling; the Narran River terminates in 
this extensive swamp; it joins the river Balonne in long. 118° 25' E., and lat. 28° 35' 38" S. Along the 
banks of this river the grass is of the very best description, growing on plains or in open forests; very 
available in every respect for cattle stations.—(“ A Geographical Dictionary; or Gazetteer of the Australian 
Colonies,” by W. H. Wells, Sydney, 1848.) 
If we turn to chapter 3 of Mifchell’s “ Tropical Australia,” we find abundant 
references to the Narran Swamp and River. 
It was evidently a native name, not given by Mitchell, but adopted from the 
name the stockmen gave him. I cannot connect it with our Yarran. 
It seems (o me that we must write “Narran” the scrub as a variant of the 
word “Yarran,” and it may be now buried deceutly. If, however, any further 
evidence be forthcoming, it can be disinterred at any time. 
Aboriginal Name. —“Wong-arrah” is an aboriginal name at Cloncurry, 
Northern Queensland, according to Mr. E. Palmer; but in regard to all names 
attributed to the Yarran, care should be taken that the Herbarium specimens do not 
refer to the Gidgee ( Acacia Cambagei ) (see Part XXNU), these two species being 
often confused with dried specimens only. 
