444 



THROWING-STICKS. 



208). The spear, however, is their FIG - 205 FIG - 206 - Fia 2u7 - 

 national weapon. These are about 

 ten feet long, and very slender, made 

 of cane or wood, tapering to a point, 

 which is barbed. They are light, and 

 one would scarcely be inclined to 

 believe that they could be darted 

 with any force ; this, however, is 

 effected by the aid of the wummera, 

 a straight flat stick, three feet in 

 length, terminating in a socket of 

 bone or hide, into which the end of 

 the s-pear is fixed. The wummera is 

 grasped in the right hand by three 

 fingers (fig. 207), the spear lying be- 

 tween the forefinger and the thumb. 

 Previous to throwing it, a tremulous 

 or vibratory motion is given to it, 

 which is supposed to add to the 

 accuracy of the aim : in projecting 

 the spear, the wummera is retained 

 in the hand, and the use of this sim- 

 ple contrivance adds greatly to the 

 projectile force given to the spear. 

 They are well practised in the use 

 of these weapons.* Indeed, Capt. 

 Grey tells us that he has often seen 

 them kill a pigeon with a spear at a 

 distance of thirty yards; and Captain 

 Cook says that " at a distance of fifty 

 yards these Indians were more sure 

 of their mark than we could be with 



Australian Australian Australian 



a single bullet/' f The "wummera" Knife - spear-caster. 



* United States Explor. Exped. vol. i. p. 191. t Cook, 1. c. 642. 



