n. and adj.
an aboriginal word.Any one of several scrubby species of Eucalyptus in the desertparts of South Australia and Victoria, especially Eucalyptusdumosa, Cunn., and E. oleosa, F. v. M., N.O. Myrtaceae. They are also called Mallee Gums.Accent on the first syllable. The word is much used as anadjective to denote the district in which the shrub grows, the « Mallee District,» and this in late times is generallyshortened into The Mallee. Compare «The Lakes» for theLake-district of Cumberland. It then becomes used as anepithet of Railways, Boards, Farmers, or any matters connectedwith that district.
1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 73:
«The natives of the Wimmera prepare a luscious drink from thelaap, a sweet exudation from the leaf of the mallee( Eucalyptus dumosa»
1854. E. Stone Parker, `Aborigines of Australia,' p. 25:
«The immense thickets of Eucalyptus dumosa, commonlydesignated the `Malle' scrub.»
1857. W. Howitt,' Tallangetta,' vol. ii. p. 2:
«This mallee scrub, as it is called, consists of a dense woodof a dwarf species of gum-tree, Eucalyptus dumosa.This tree, not more than a dozen feet in height, stretches itshorizontal and rigid branches around it so as to form with itscongeners a close, compact mass.»
186. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia, vol. i. p. 214(Oxley's Expedition in 1817):
«The country, in dead flats, was overspread with what is nowcalled mallee scrub, that is, the dwarf spreading eucalyptus,to which Mr. Cunningham gave the specific name of dumosa, a most pestilent scrub to travel through,the openings betwixt the trees being equally infested withthe detestable malle-grass.»
1883. `The Mallee Pastoral Leases Act, 1883,' 47 Vict.No. 766, p. 3:
«The lands not alienated from the Crown and situated in theNorth-Western district of Victoria within the boundaries setforth in the First Schedule hereto, comprising in all some tenmillions of acres wholly or partially covered with the malleeplant, and known as the Mallee Country, shall be divided intoblocks as hereinafter provided.»
1890. `The Argus,' June 13, p. 6, col. 2:
«Mallee Selections at Horsham. A special Mallee Board,consisting of Mr. Hayes, head of the Mallee branch ofthe Lands Department, and Mr. Porter.»
1893. `The Argus,' April 24, p. 7, col. 5:
«In the Mallee country there is abundance of work, cutting downmallee, picking up dead wood, rabbit destruction, etc.
1893. A. R. Wallace, `Australasia,' vol. i. p. 46:
«One of the most common terms used by explorers is `Mallee'scrub, so called from its being composed of dwarf species ofEucalyptus, called `Mallee' by the natives. The species thatforms the `mallee' scrub of South Australia is the Eucalyptus dumosa, and it is probable that alliedspecies receive the same name in other parts of the country.»
1897. `The Argus,' March 2, p. 7, col. 1:
«The late Baron von Mueller was firmly convinced that it wouldpay well in this colony, and especially in the mallee, tomanufacture potash.»