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[Page 12]

                                                           11

of of the northern and interior regions of our vast  

continent the practisce was not unknown. I have  

however never been able to hear of any authentic case of

cannabalism on the East coast of New South Wales

either from my talks with pioneers of the north coast  and  [^or]

of the far south coast. Nor yet from written evidence

such as the "Tindal  Letters" (Clarence and Hunter rivers 1843  to

1859) and Robert Dawson's book in which he writes very

fully on the subject in relation to the Port Stephens, and

adjacent, natives whom he had unique opportunities of

studying during the years 1826 to 1829. The gist of his

remarks is that he neither saw nor heard of any reliable

case of this revolting custom during his travels over the

A.A. Company's grant or even beyond its boundaries.

*  Footnote

     The half caste Freeburn told me that, in his boyhood, the

Yumbah tribe usually spent the winter some miles

inland getting their food supply from the forest

animals and other products of the bush.

When a certain plant,  called  or shrub, called

by them "nu-um-nu-um," came into blossom they knew

that the fish were beginning to run and that it was

time to shift camp to the Clarence Heads to enjoy

a change to fish diet. These they speared or netted

as the shoals swam in from the sea.

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