THE BUSH LARDER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11945, 16 May 1933, Page 3

THE BUSH LARDER

SOME NATIVE FOODSTUFFS

FRUIT AND BERRIES WANGANUI, May 10. Although it is a fortnight since the jUiixiety and disturbance caused through the misadventure of a tramp .ing party in the Tararuas /has died .down, it is of .interest to note what henries and fruits were available in the bush, at that-time (Easter). Discussing tho subject with a well-known authority, ■-a reporter ■ was told that a very large assortment was to ho found in that (locality, but mostwere extremely difficult to reach.

Perhaps the best known of the forest foods 'is idle kie-kic, so often misoa Ileal gie-gio, .with its great fleshy white haoics and young spikes of fruit (urcure), but not iso many have seen .it. for it perches high in tire friendly fork of a tree, needing the agility of a monkey io reach it. Young cabbage tree Iheads (ti kouka), sand the tops of the. nikau palm are delicious, too—when you gob them. .Away up among the tree lops arc also many representatives of the mistletoe, family with beautiful berries ranging from white and pink to deep purple _ A two known, to Maoris as rena, but, which we call the blueberry flaunts its lovely sprays of sweet lasting rod, yellow and green berries a mero SO or 100 feet up. Then there arc the scarlet mfiros* loved 1 of pigeons, and the fruit of the kabikatoa (white pine) set on a curious red berry much, esteemed by 'fhe Maori. All. are wliero only birds or acrobats can roach them. The tawa furnishes fruit of m sort, and the aril oi-t-he kali ekoEo and the titoki— flaunting scarlet is ediblo—in small quantities. The Id nan though, is a real find. The fruit resembles a damson, and is used after steeping in water, and being rubbed between the bands rhen the stalks and skins strained out, and the coarse grev meal is made into a cake. Another useful tree is the kanaka with its gorgeous yellow berries. The kernel formed a staple food 1 of the Natives* but if bail to bo prepared carefully otherwiso there was a risk oi poisoning. • Tbo pretty little hush fuchsia, the koniui, is another useful quo, for its berries are easy to gather, and so are the fporo-poro fruits. Species of the doprosma with its various berries—scarlet, colourless, and pMo blue, abound in the North Island forests. One, species known as karamu some, what resembles coffee. '.I hen the patotara, !fturn'd up to 5000 feet, belli s a sweet orange-coloured, seed, and fie crimson drupes of the maire are not to bo clispised. Tlio inconspicuous little “wiggv bush” provides a swia scented berry, and pohu roots can be eaten. Tim blaaki«h-.purp!o mid oi the Pdttosporum is edible—at a pine i —and a good “chew” can be made by mixing sow-thistle juice with, the sticky exudation from, tbo lemon-wood 'si useful to know that » decoction made from the leaves.of - iwakawa is an old remedy for tooth ache, rheumatism, and pain and •swelling .generally; also that the pounded and roasted flax root makes exceUen poultices for unbroken and abscesses. The leaves’of tbo >1 P make a remedy, known as Maon pam killed The root of the supplejack, is excellent sarsaparilla, and a refneslnng drink can bo obtained by cutting t rata vine. ~, . ~ . , i • *.<, . Creeping , round -be -Zealand every clearing is til bramble,; tatarmoana;; .prickles), and its cousin,. lawyer,’ with, their yellowish, reddish .fruit. The cut 'stems also swe.et. juice*