FOODS OF THE BUSH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 8

FOODS OF THE BUSH

PLANTS WHICH ARE EDIBLE ADDRESS BY MB DOWNES Woodloro and methods of obtaining food when in tho bush formed the subject of a most interesting address by Mr T. W. Downes to the Wanganui Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon yesterday. Although he could not deal with the subject in the same manner as a man who had spent his life among trees and was an experienced bushman, Mr Downes said that he had spent his early days in the bush and had traversed many miles of country on foot, as, for instance, from Bulls to Napier. Some people had a better sense of direction in tho bush than others, continued the speaker, though personally he was inclined to call it observation and not direction. Regarding the theory of working to the left he considered that that was brought about by r person taking a shorter step with the left foot than with the right when ho became tired, though he knew that Mr J. Deem considered that it was because people were always taught to move to the left. It was a noticeable fact, however, that when fowls were being fed they would always run in a circle to the left. Before entering the bush it was always advisable to study a map of tho district which was to bo covered, continued Mr Downes. It was also necessary to know the points of the compass and always to carry a compass. On a map the north was always shown correctly, but a compass pointed about 16| degrees to the east of the true rorth. However, if ono was working out with a compass one could also work back with it because the same direction would be followed. It was well-known that tho sun rose in the east and set in the west and, therefore, the north could be roughly estimated by noticing tho direction in which the sun either set or rose. When following a map, the speaker considered that it was easier to keep to the ridges than to the valleys. There was usually a track to be found on tho ridges while the valleys often developed into large gorges through which it was difficult to make a passage. There was, of course, also a difficulty in following a ridge because it often branched into many spurs and that had to be guarded against. Lighting a Fire. Lighting a fire in the bush in the rain was quite a simple matter, continued the s x eaker. It was always advisable to keep one’s matches in a bottle. Should they become wet they could easily be dried by placing them in one’s hair. To prepare a fire the tiniest of shavings of wood should be pared into the size of a needle. One should not be in a hurry to light the wood, but should make a large pile of the shavings, increasing the size of them as the pile grew bigger. When the match was lit the smaller shavings would light and soon the whole pile would be blazing, even if it was pouring with rain. There were very few woods in the bush which would not burn, and most of them caught fire easily. The konini, fuschia, was one wodd which was difficult to burn. Bush Foods. In the event of being lost in the bush there was plenty of food to btf had on looking round, said Mr Downes. Food, which, although it might not suit the taste of an epicure would, never, theless, appease hunger, for beggars could not be choosers. The speaker said that he himself had been lost once on the Ruahine Range, but had got out of it alright. Placing a list of names of ferns on the wall for tho Rotarians to see, Mr Downes said that there were a number of sources from which food could be obtained. These weer as follows: Orchids.—One of the orchids, with an onion-like top had a small bulbous root, which was edible, called maikaika by the natives. It was often found in clumps. Ferns.—Tho mamaku, which was a big, black fern often seen in gardens, was known to many. The top portion of this could be taken and the bark stripped. Lengthy cooking was required before it could be enjoyed. The Maoris used to steam it on stones, but it was not always possible to find stones in the bush. Alplenium bulbiferum, or hen and chickens, was also well known by its little bulbs and fronds. It was very common and could be obtained in the bush anywhere. The young fronds only were used and, of course, cooked. Palms were well known also. Of the most common were the cabbag' tree, the nikau and the toi. Of the cabbage tree the root and the top portion could be eaten. The roots should be stripped of tho bark and cooked. The roots and the top portion of the toi and the nikau could also be eaten in the same manner. The wharawhara was to be found growing in tho thickest portion of the trees. The top portion and the leaves could bo eaten raw, while it also had a very nice berry which could bo eaten in tho season. Native convovulus, pohui, supplied food in its roots and leaves. Th& root looked something like macaroni and, although it was somewhat bitter, was formerly eaten by the Maoris. The kiakia, was a climbing plant, found everywhere, and was ripe in October. I.ater in the year tho female fingers of tho flowers developed into a fruit something like a corn cob, black in colour, which, when thoroughly ripe ..as delicious. This kiakia, sometimes called gigi, was very popular with the early settlers who used to make jam with it. Sou thistle was also quite edible, and was easily cooked. It was slightly bitter, but if tho leaves were rubbed in water it was more palatable. Watercress, when boiled, was quite a good vegetable. Fungus, which was to be found on tho trees, was quite good to eat when steamed, and was said to be nourishing.’ I.argo quantities at one time had been exported to China. In tho swamp the root of tho rapou was sustaining, and could be eaten raw; the flower was formerly made into a sort of cake by the natives. Berries were to be found on the fuchsia tree in January, while the titoki berry was also ripe about the same time. It grew to the size of a raspberry and had a black seed on it like a black bee. Tho poroporo, about tho size of a cape gooseberry, grow in largo clumps and one could find flowers, green berries and ripe berries on tho same tree. Until it was ripe it had an ugly taste though it was much liked by I

the tuis, which grew quite fat by eating it. The speaker said that he had, on more than one occasion, caught tuis using the poroporo a bait. Other berries were the hinau, from which, tho Maoris used to make bread and a sort of porridge, the totara and matai, while the karaka and the tawa kernels were preserved by the Maoris and were’quite good. Water Luckily it was nearly always possible to get water in the bush, said Mr Downes, but, he added, should there be any difficulty in getting water, a liquid could be got fror the rata vino and tho matai trees; tho latter was well known to bushmon and was called “matai beer.” Both were very palatable. Eels were not to be found in the high country, though they could be got in the lower creeks and could be caught by using worms as bait. Bush crayfish were to be found in large numbers under logs and were very palatable, while ♦he huhu grubs, which were found in logs, were also alright to eat. “I have eaten some myself, and toasted them,” said the speaker in response to a laugh which wont round the room. In conclusion, Mr Downes showed his audience a simple trap which was

constructed of supplejacks and which had been used largely by tho Maoris for catching rats. An illustration of its use was given by the speaker, who added that the rats which were caught by the Maoris were the Polynesian rats, and not the ordinary rat which was found in the bush to-day. “I hope none of you will have to eat rats, but if you do you will find that they might be better than you think they are,” ho said, amidst another round of laughter. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker for his address.