Page:Diary of ten years.djvu/478

 20 Dilbi, s.—A leaf.

Dil-yurdu, s.—Circus; the marsh harrier bird.

Dinang, v.—Pres. part., Dinangwin; past tense, Dinang-ăgga; to carry on the shoulders. This is the way they carry wounded or sick persons, sitting with the legs pressing against their sides in front.

Dingar—(K. G. S.) The seed of a common shrub at King George's Sound, which bears a blue flower.

Dinyt, s.—The lions.

Djaat, s.—(K. G. S.) The sun.

Djabbun, v.—(North word.) Pres. part., Djabbunin; past tense, Djabbunaga; to pick up; to take up.

Djakat, s.—A small root eaten by the natives; in season in the months of September and October.

Djallam, a.—Acrid; bitter; salt. Much of the soil of the colony is strongly inpregnated with salt, so that many of the lakes and stagnant waters, and pools in river beds, are intensely salt in summer. In many places the salt is dug up from the bottom of shallow waters, or scraped from the earth where the water has been evaporated, and is found excellent for all purposes of culinary or domestic use. Salt can be procured in great abundance also from the lakes in the interior of Rottnest Island; but it should be boiled before use, as it is said to have a bitter flavour without that preparation, probably from the commixture of some extraneous ingredient.

Djalyup.—(K. G. S.) A species of paroquet.

Djam, s.—Water.

Djănbar, s.—The same as the Madja; an edible root; a coarse kind of Bohn.

Djăndga, s.—The dead. The reappearance of deceased persons. A term applied to Europeans, who are supposed to be aborigines, under another colour, restored to the land of their nativity. This idea prevails equally on the eastern as on the western coasts of Australia, in places 2000 miles apart from each other. It has taken its rise most likely from the supposition that none but those who were already acquainted with the country would or could find their way to it. Europeans are frequently claimed as relatives by old people, who think, or pretend, that they are sure of their identity, and who treat them according to the love they formerly bore to the individual supposed to be recognised.

Djăng-găng, s.—Anthochæra Lewinii; the wattle bird.

Djănja, s.—A species of Hakea tree.

Djanjarak, s.—Himantopus; long-tailed plover.

Djanni, s.—The bark of the Banksia and Hakea trees. This bark is used by the aborigines for two purposes: 1st, for pointing wood or sticks, as the Wanna, or digging staff of the women, and the Dowak, or throwing-sticks; these implements having been charred in the fire, are then rasped to a point with the Djanni. 2ndly, it serves them as a means of warming themselves when moving about. In cold weather, every native, male or female, may be seen carrying