BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUNR. 273 



and forefinger. The former flies off from the dart the instant 

 the velocity becomes greater than that of the hand, but it remains 

 on the finger ready to be used again." This is precisely the method 

 employed in New Caledonia, as may be seen in PL xviii., fig. 14, 

 which is from a drawing made at Panie by Mr. Chas. Hedley. 

 The only other authors who mention the New Caledonian imple- 

 ment known to me are Labillardiere, the Rev. George Turner, 

 Mr. T. H. Hood, and, as before mentioned, Mr. J. Edge- Partington. 



Labillardiere,* who during the French expedition in search of 

 La Perouse landed in New Caledonia^ says he " admired the 

 ingenious method they had invented to accelerate the motion of 

 those javelins when they throw them : for that purpose they 

 employ a piece of very elastic cord, made of the covering of the 

 cocoa nut and fish skin, one extremity of which they fix to the 

 end of the forefinger, and the other, which ends in a sort of 

 round button, is twisted round the end of the dart in such a 

 manner as to quit its hold as soon as that weapon is thrown into 

 the air." Labillardiere also figures a New Caledonian in the act 

 of using the " doigtier." 



Turner refers to the "doigtier" in connection with mortuary 

 ceremonies.! " They set up spears at the head of a chief when 

 they bury him, and fasten a spear-thrower on to his forefinger, 

 and lay {a club at the top of his grave." 



Hood describes! the dress of the natives at Port de France as 

 consisting of a " turban of scarlet cloth, if possible; if not, of 

 white, with a plume of feathers; a little string with a knot at the 

 end of it, made of the fur of the Rousette, tied round the first 

 finger of the right hand, used in throwing their spears, one of 

 which they generally carry." 



* Voyage in Search of La Perouse, &c. Translated from the French, 

 1800, ii., p. 255. 



+ Nineteen Years in Polynesia, 1861, p. 452. 



J Notes of a Cruise in H.M.S. "Fawn" in the W. Pacific in the Year 

 1862, 1862, p. 215. 



18 



