Blackall2 Sept. 13th/ 78
Dear Sir
By this mail I forward you a parcel of Pitcherie, which I found on one of rambles out West of the Herbert River.3 Several friends of mine told me that you would like to have some, so take liberty of sending you some. I have No. them so you will know them. No. 1 the "Flower, taken from the tree by myself," the Twigs being No. 2, the leaves No. 3. There is no doubt about this lot as I found, and gathered it myself.
I am very sorry that I did not take greater pains in preserving the flower. You will know why when I say I was looking for water at the time, and very thirsty, I found the above Pitcherie in about Latitude 23º South4 and 138º East Longd. If you find this plant of any account, you can communicate with me, or if you wish for more, or any other part of tree, I will be very glad to send it you. The effects of Pitcherie on Blacks when they use it, is some thing similar to opium on Chinamen. If roused from that state, they get very savage. The Blacks, when they get Picherie first, generally put it over a blaze for a few moments, then they bury it for a few days. When they are going to use it they chew a small portion for a few moments then they mix it with a little ashes, when its fit for use, a few moments chewing suffices them at a time.
trusting you will excuse the length of this note
I am yours truly
R. C. S. Macphee
Bulya5 Station
Burke River
Via Cork Diamentina Queensland
Please cite as “FVM-78-09-13,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/78-09-13