photograph taken in the Beelier Wetlands by dheborah July 2015
This is a photograph of a dried Banksia cone which is being used to carry fire. This large cone will smoulder for hours. Fire is then used for cooking, warmth, the vital Fire Ceremonies, and hunting. When small areas of land are carefully burned in the traditional manner, lizard eggs are able to be located for eating. The Banksia has a bottle-brush like flower which is a favourite of the Black cockatoos and the Twenty-eight parrots. Many of the smaller birds and large butterflies also feast from it (and, of course, the bees). Banksia trees also produce large, soft edible seeds that the birds split open and eat. The fire-sticks were kept alive and one person was assigned the privilege of carrying it. It used to be kept inside ( we are familiar with the handmade shelter or "Humpy" ) or alongside, in a container or basket, often with cool, edible paperbark leaves. The fire stick was safest when pushed into the sand or propped up in soil amongst river rocks. It is a very stupid person that tries to blow on the fire-stick to find out it's power.
