Austral English Part 171

p. 43:

"Not a drop of rain! And for many and many a day the jackaroo will still chop down the limbs of the mulga-tree, that of its tonic leaves the sheep may eat and live."

1894. `The Argus,' Sept. 1, p. 4, col. 2:

"The dull green of the mulga-scrub at their base."

1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 85:

"Flax and tussock and fern, Gum and mulga and sand, Reef and palm--but my fancies turn Ever away from land."

(2) A weapon, made of mulgawood.

(a) A shield.

1878. `Catalogue of Ethnotypical Art in the National Gallery'

(Melbourne), p. 19:

"Mulga. Victoria. Thirty-six inches in length. This specimen is 37 inches in length and 5 inches in breadth at the broadest part. The form of a section through the middle is nearly triangular. The aperture for the hand (cut in the solid wood) is less than 4 inches in length. Ornamentation :Herring-bone, the incised lines being filled in with white clay. Some figures of an irregular form are probably the distinguishing marks of the owner's tribe. This shield was obtained from Larne-Gherin in the Western District."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 349:

"Mulga is the name of a long narrow shield of wood, made by the aboriginals out of acacia-wood."

(b) In one place Sir Thomas Mitch.e.l.l speaks of it as a club.

1839. T. L. Mitch.e.l.l, `Three Expeditions,' vol. ii. p. 267:

"The malga [sic] ... with which these natives were provided, somewhat resembled a pick-axe with one half broken off."

Mulga-Apple, n. a gall formed on the Mulga-tree, Acacia aneura, F. v. M. (q.v.). See also Apple.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 3:

"In Western New South Wales two kinds of galls are found on these trees. One kind is very astringent, and not used; but the other is less abundant, larger, succulent and edible.

These latter galls are called `mulga-apples,' and are said to be very welcome to the thirsty traveller."

1889. E. Giles, `Australia Twice Traversed,' p. 71:

"The mulga bears a small woody fruit called the mulga apple.

It somewhat resembles the taste of apples and is sweet."

Mulga-down, n. hills covered with Mulga.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvii. p. 201:

"Fascinating territories of limitless mulga-downs."

Mulga-gra.s.s, n. an Australian gra.s.s, Danthonia penicillata, F. v. M.; also Neurachne mitch.e.l.liana, Nees. See also Gra.s.s.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 82:

"Mulga Gra.s.s... . Peculiar to the back country. It derives its vernacular name from being only found where the mulga-tree (Acacia aneura and other species) grows; it is a very nutritious and much esteemed gra.s.s."

Mulga-scrub, n. thickets of Mulga-trees.

1864. J. McDouall Stuart, `Explorations in Australia,'

p. 190:

"For the first three miles our course was through a very thick mulga scrub, with plenty of gra.s.s, and occasionally a little spinifex."

1875. John Forrest, `Explorations in Australia,' p. 220:

"Travelled till after dark through and over spinifex plains, wooded with acacia and mulga scrub, and camped without water and only a little scrub for the horses, having travelled nearly forty miles."

1876. W. Harcus, `South Australia,' p. 127:

"The road for the next thirty miles, to Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station, is characterized by mulga-scrub, open plains, sand-hills, and stony rises poorly gra.s.sed."

1893. A. R. Wallace, `Australasia,' vol. i. p. 47:

"Still more dreaded by the explorer is the `Mulga' scrub, consisting chiefly of dwarf acacias. These grow in spreading irregular bushes armed with strong spines, and where matted with other shrubs form a ma.s.s of vegetation through which it is impossible to penetrate."

Mulga-studded, adj. with Mulga growing here and there.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvii. p. 201:

"The frown on the face of the mulga-studded lowlands deepened."

Mullet, n. Various species of this fish are present in Australasia, all belonging to the family Mugilidae, or Grey-Mullets. They are the--

Flat-tail Mullet-- Mugil peronii, Cuv. and Val.

Hard-gut M.-- M. dobula, Gunth.

Sand-M., or Talleygalanu-- Myxus elongatus, Gunth. (called also Poddy in Victoria).

Sea-M.-- M. grandis, Castln.

In New Zealand, the Mullet is Mugil perusii, called the Silver-Mullet (Maori name, Kanae); and the Sea-Mullet, Agonostoma forsteri (Maori name, Aua, q.v.); abundant also in Tasmanian estuaries.

The Sand-Mullet in Tasmania is Mugil cephalotus, Cuv. and Val. See also Red-Mullet.

1890. `Victorian Statutes--Fisheries Act, Second Schedule':

[Close Season.] "Sand-mullet or poddies."

Mullock, n. In English, the word is obsolete; it was used by Chaucer in the sense of refuse, dirt. In Australia, it is confined to" `rubbish, dirt, stuff taken out of a mine--the refuse after the vein-stuff is taken away'

(Brough Smyth's `Glossary')."