c. viii. p. 68:

"Here's a real good wholesome cabbage--warrigal cabbage the
shepherds call it."

<hw>Warrina</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Warrener</i>.

<hw>Washdirt</hw>, <i>n</i>. any alluvial deposit from which
gold is obtained by washing; or "the auriferous gravel, sand,
clay, or cement, in which the greatest proportion of gold is
found." (Brough Smyth's `Glossary,' 1869.) Often called
<i>dirt</i> (q.v.).

1896. `Melbourne Argus,' April 30, p. 7, col. 6:

"In colour the washdirt is of a browner and more iron-stained
appearance than the white free wash met across the creek."

<hw>Waterbush</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian tree,
i.q. <i>Native Daphne</i>. See <i>Daphne</i>.

<hw>Watergrass</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian name for <i>Manna
grass</i>, <i>Poa fluitans</i>, Scop., <i>N.O. Gramineae</i>.

<hw>Water-Gum</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Gum</i>.

<hw>Water-hole</hw>, <i>n</i>. The word <i>pond</i> is seldom
used in Australia. Any pond, natural or artificial, is called
a <i>Water-hole</i>. The word also denotes a depression or
cavity in the bed of an intermittent river, which remains full
during the summer when the river itself is dry.

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. i. c. ii. p. 80:

"There was no smoke to betray a water-hole."

1853. S. Sidney, `Three Colonies of Australia,' p. 245:

"The deep pools, called colonially `water-holes.'"

1862. F. J. Jobson, `Australia,' c. vii. p. 181:

"`Water-holes' appeared at intervals, but they seemed to have
little water in them."

1864. J. McDouall Stuart, `Explorations in Australia,' p. 58:

"About four miles from last night's camp the chain of large
water-holes commences, and continues beyond tonight's camp."

1875. Wood and Lapham, `Waiting for the Mail,' p. 15:

"The water-hole was frozen over, so she was obliged to go on
farther, where the water ran."

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), June 26, p. 94, col. 1:

"A bottomless water-hole, about 300 feet wide, exists at
Maryvale homestead, Gipps Land."

1878. Mrs. H. Jones, `Broad Outlines of Long Years in
Australia,' p. 97:

"`That will be another water-hole.' `What an ugly word . . .
why don't you call them pools or ponds?' `I can't tell you why
they bear such a name, but we never call them anything else,
and if you begin to talk of pools or ponds you'll get well
laughed at.'"

1896. `The Argus,' March 30, p. 6, col. 9:

[The murderer] has not since been heard of. Dams and
wa