bunya-bunya

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


aboriginal word. [ Bunyiat heads of Burnett, Mary, and Brisbane rivers, Queensland; baanya, on the Darling Downs.] An Australian tree, Araucaria bidwillii, Hooker, with fruit somewhat like Bertholletia excelsa, N.O. Coniferae.Widgi-Widgi station on the Mary was the head-quarters for thefruit of this tree, and some thousands of blacks used toassemble there in the season to feast on it; it was at thisassembly that they used to indulge in cannibalism ; every thirdyear the trees were said to bear a very abundant crop. TheBunya-Bunya mountains in Queensland derive their name from thistree.

1843. L. Leichhardt, Letter in `Cooksland, by J. D. Lang,p. 82:

«The bunya-bunya tree is noble and gigantic, and itsumbrella-like head overtowers all the trees of the bush.»

1844. Ibid. p. 89:

«The kernel of the Bunya fruit has a very fine aroma,and it is certainly delicious eating.»

1844. `Port Phillip Patriot,' July 25:

«The Bunya-Bunya or Araucaria on the seeds of whichnumerous tribes of blacks are accustomed to feed.»

1879. W. R. Guilfoyle, `First Book of Australian Botany,' p. 58:

«A splendid timber tree of South Queensland, where it formsdense forests, one of the finest of the Araucaria tribe,attaining an approximate height of 200 feet. The Bunya-Bunyawithstands drought better than most of the genus, andflourishes luxuriantly in and around Melbourne.»

1887. J. Mathew, in Curr's `Australian Race,' vol. iii. p. 161:

[A full account.] «In laying up a store of bunyas, the blacksexhibited an unusual foresight. When the fruit was in season,they filled netted bags with the seeds, and buried them.»

1889. Hill, quoted by J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 7:

«The cones shed their seeds, which are two to two and a halfinches long by three-quarters of an inch broad; they are sweetbefore being perfectly ripe, and after that resemble roastedchestnuts in taste. They are plentiful once in three years,and when the ripening season arrives, which is generally in themonth of January, the aborigina&ls assemble in large numbersfrom a great distance around, and feast upon them. Each tribehas its own particular set of trees, and of these each familyhas a certain number allotted, which are handed down fromgeneration to generation with great exactness. The bunya isremarkable as being the only hereditary property which any ofthe aborigines are known to possess, and it is thereforeprotected by law. The food seems to have a fattening effect onthe aborigines, and they eat large quantities of it afterroasting it at the fire.»

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 377:

«The `Bunya-bunya' of the aboriginals – – a name invariablyadopted by the colonists.»

1892. J. Fraser, `Aborigines of New South Wales,' p. 50:

«The Bunya-bunya tree, in the proper season, bears a fir coneof great size – – six to nine inches long-and this, when roasted,yields a vegetable pulp, pleasant to eat and nutritious.»

1893. `Sydney Morning Herald,' Aug. 19, p. 7, col. 1:

«There is a beautiful bunya-bunya in a garden just beyond, itsfoliage fresh varnished by the rain, and toning from a richdarkness to the very spring tint of tender green.»