lian
black says that he is as miserable as the bandicoot."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals, p. 92:

"The bandicoots are good eating even for Europeans, and in my
opinion are the only Australian mammals fit to eat. They
resemble pigs, and the flesh tastes somewhat like pork."

<hw>Bangalay</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Sydney workmen's name for the
timber of <i>Eucalyptus botrioides</i>, Smith. (See
<i>Gum</i>.) The name is aboriginal, and by workmen is always
pronounced <i>Bang Alley</i>.

<hw>Bangalow</hw>, <i>n</i>. an ornamental feathery-leaved
palm, <i>Ptychosperma elegans</i>, Blume, <i>N.O. Palmeae</i>.

1851. J. Henderson, `Excursions in New South Wales,' vol. ii.
p.229

"The Bangalo, which is a palm. . . The germ, or roll of young
leaves in the centre, and near the top, is eaten by the
natives, and occasionally by white men, either raw or boiled.
It is of a white colour, sweet and pleasant to the taste."

1884. W. R. Guilfoyle, `Australian Botany,' p. 23:

"The aborigines of New South Wales and Queensland, and
occasionally the settlers, eat the young leaves of the cabbage
and bangalo palms."

1886. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 193:

You see he was bred in a bangalow wood,
And bangalow pith was the principal food
His mother served out in her shanty."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 592:

"Bangalow. . . . The small stems sometimes go under the name
of `Moreton Bay Canes.' It is a very ornamental,
feathery-leaved palm."

<hw>Bang-tail muster</hw>. See quotation.

1887. W. S. S. Tyrwhitt, `The New Churn in the Queensland Bush,'
p. 61:

"Every third or fourth year on a cattle station, they have what
is called a `bang tail muster'; that is to say, all the cattle
are brought into the yards, and have the long hairs at the end
of the tail cut off square, with knives or sheep-shears. . .
The object of it is. . .to find out the actual number of
cattle on the run, to compare with the number entered on the
station books."

<hw>Banker</hw>, <i>n</i>. a river full up to the top of the
banks. Compare Shakspeare: "Like a proud river, peering o'er
his bounds." (`King John,' III. i. 23.)

1888. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol, iii. p. 175

"The Murrumbidgee was running a `banker'--water right up to the
banks."

1890. Lyth, `Golden South,' c. vii. p. 52:

"The driver stated that he had heard the river was `a banker.'"

1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 4