28 Mr. Ferguson on the Antiquity of the Kiliee or Boomerang. 



making only this distinction, that the latter was a weapon of double the dimen- 

 sions ; " Cateiam quidam asserunt teli genus esse, tale quale Aclides sunt, ex 

 materia quam maxime lenta, cubitus longitudine, tota fere clavis ferreis illigata, 

 quam in hostem jaculantes, lineis quibus earn adnexuerant, reciprocam faciebant ;" 

 (Servius in ^neid. 1. vii. v. 741;) where it will be still observed, that he 

 leaves it uncertain whether the reciprocating flight arose from the retraction of 

 the lines, or was a consequence of the mode in which the weapon was thrown by 

 their instrumentality. 



To these we may add a testimony of considerable force, if the translation 

 suggested should be deemed the true one, from Sidonius ApoUinaris, Bishop of 

 the Arverni, a writer of the fifth century. The passage occurs in that panegyric 

 which Sidonius recited before the Emperor Majorian on his arrival at Lyons in 

 the year 457. In this piece the Acquitanian prelate gives an interesting, though 

 inflated account of a victory obtained a short time previously by Majorian over a 

 predatory band of Vandals and Moorish slaves from Africa, who had attempted 

 to carry off a prey from the coast of Campania. He depicts the fat Vandal 

 starting from the benches of his galley, and arming himself for the support of 

 his emissaries on shore, with certain poisoned missiles, which, according to what 

 appears the most obvious translation,* strike twice when once discharged ; and, in 



* It may be argued that the words, " quae ferlant bis missa semel" have reference to the poison 

 of the arrows alluded to in the preceding Une, and mean, " vfhich injure doubly by a single dis- 

 charge." The other translation has, however, been preferred on the following grounds. 



Both interpretations go on the assumption, that in the words " quae feriant bis missa semel," the 

 poet intended an antithesis between his and semel ; and the diflference between the two interpreta- 

 tions consists in this, that in the one the antithesis is held to lie between the one discharge and the 

 two successive effects ; while in the other, it is held to lie between the one discharge and the two 

 simultaneous effects. 



It is true, bis, under certain circumstances, will mean double in simultaneous operation, as " bis 

 periit amator," &c. ; but never, it is submitted, when in opposition to semel, for semel has but one 

 meaning, " once, in point of time" and to be in opposition to it, bis must necessarily mean " twice, 

 in point of time," The interpretation which refers his to a succession of blows, would, therefore, 

 so far appear preferable to that in which his is made to have reference to the double simultaneous 

 operation of cutting and poisoning by one and the same blow. 



Again, where the actions of two or more agents unite in one verb, the verb employed ought to 

 be such as is proper to both or all. Thus, in expressing in English the idea supposed by the 



