Page 237 - Mit dem Wohnwagen durch Australien

Of course we also visited the local base of the Royal Flying Doctors. They serve a huge terrain with very few
inhabitants. Some people live more than a day’s travel away from the next hospital. The RFDS are very popular in
Australia and everywhere people give donations. One of the artists in Broken Hill has asked us to deliver an umbrella
which he has created himself, to the Hotel in White Cliffs. The umbrella is nailed upside down to the ceiling and
people flip coins for the RFDS in. Of course we did this and promptly got a glass of beer for our pains.

We are on a quest for prehistoric Art and were lucky. A lot of the roads in the outback were closed due to the floods.
The track to Mutawintji was re-opened on the day of our intended visit at 9 am. At 9.30 AM we were one the way
following our Aborigine guide Smaka with our Troopy to the National Parc 130 km away on a gravel road in poor
repair. Some places were still rather boggy and a bridge was swept clear away, but our Troopy mastered it all very
well. When we arrived at the gate to the historical site there was sudden hectic in Smakas car. After a while he came
to us with red ears, he had forgotten the keys in town. Beat offered to lift the gate off the hinges, but Smaka would
have gotten into difficulties. So, we packed some water and went on foot. Here we experienced for the first time the
biggest plague inAustralia, the flies. But, we were in scouts and prepared for all contingencies, so we donned the fly
nets over our heads, put our hats on top and were more or less protected. Flies are the most obnoxious creatures
here. They were probably created so that tourists think twice about staying in the country. Without flies it would be
paradise.

Smaka has led us to an ancient meeting place of his people and explained some bush tucker to us. My favourites
are the bush tomatoes. These are little red berries which really taste like tomatoes and are a bit sweet and a bit
salty. They re very refreshing but to be eaten in moderation. Of course we heed this advice. Contrary to two explorers
in the 1860s, Bourke and Wills. They have done just about everything wrong what can be done wrong. They were
saved by Aborigines who gave them water and food. They showed the explorers how to make flour out of grass
seeds with which they baked flat bread. After y while the Aborigines forbid them to use the seeds any longer. The
explorers thought that the Aborigines wanted to use the seeds for themselves and continued to bake their bred.
They died later of the consequences. The natives new that the seeds would become poisonous after a certain date,
Instead of giving vitamin B to the body, they would deplete the body of this vitamin, thus inducing beriberi . Their own
fault.

HERE A BUSH TUCKER RECEIPE:
Hunt an Emu, pull out the feathers and clean it out. Fill the cavity with nice smelling herbs like rosemary, lemongrass
and other herbs and leaves. Then close the opening with a stick.

Meanwhile dig out a large pit, light a fire with Mulgawood, put some large stone and gum tree leaves on top. Now put
the Emu in, cover it with leaves and its feathers. Some veggies can also be put in. Close up with stones and earth.
Very important, make sure that the head of the Emu looks out of the pit. Now wait.

The biggest difficulty is to know when the Emu is cooked. Depending on the size of the bird it takes more or less
long. The Aborigines have invented an infallible indicator. As soon as the meat is hot enough, the herbs in the
stomach start to smoulder and smoke. The smoke then exits via the beak and viola the bird is done.
With a Kangaroo you would do likewise. However, you leave the fur on and you have to make sure that the behind
looks out of the pit in order for the Aborigine kitchen clock to work.

WHY THE CROW IS BLACK
In the dreamtime Eagle and Crow were looking for spouses. Crow had a sister and suggested to Eagle that he take
her as his spouse. Eagle did agree and had two lovely sons. Crow now also wanted a spouse and pestered Eagle
that he owed him a sister. Eagle had no sister and had to refuse. Crow was very disappointed and went away. He
was waiting to take revenge. One day, when Eagle was out hunting, Crow came to the nest and killed the sons of
Eagle. When Eagle came back, he knew right away what had happened but did not let on. He prepared for the burial
of his sons and even asked Crow to help him. Crow came and asked what he could do. Eagle asked him to lie into
the grave just so, that Eagle can be sure, that it is large enough for his sons. Crow willingly did as he was bid. No
sooner was he lying down, did Eagle shovel back the earth into the grave and even put some stones on top. Crow
begged and screeched to no avail. Then came a huge storm with thunder and lightning. One of the flashes hit the
grave and spun the stones away. It was so hot in the grave, that Crow burned his feathers all black. Eagle soared
high into the sky and laughed. Ever since then Crow is black, emits lamenting cries and does not fly so high any
longer.