^74 THE SPEAR-BECKET OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, 



Dr. Victor de Rochas in a small work* dealing with New Cale- 

 donia, states that the natives project the spears " with dexterity 

 to a distance of forty or fifty paces by means of a small laniere 

 fixed to the index finger, and which is twisted round the spear 

 at its centre of gravity." A New Caledonian is portrayed in 

 another workf by Mr. G. L. Domeny de Rienzi in the act of 

 spearing the beautiful New Caledonian Kayou, ( Rhynochetos 

 jubatus, V. & M.). His spear is fitted with a " doigtier." 



In Mr. Edge-Partington's work one example of the becket is 

 shown,! and in miniature the method of slipping it on a spear.§ 



Lastly, the subject of the "doigtier," according to Dr. J. B. N. 

 Vincent,l| of the French navy, is to give a rotary movement to 

 the spear. 



From these extracts it would appear that the becket was made 

 of cocoa-nut fibre and fish skin, or the fur of the New Caledonian 

 Flying-fox or " Rousette " {Pterojnis vetulns, Jouan). 



The Australian Museum possesses twelve examples of this 

 spear-thrower or becket, all on the same principle, but no two of 

 which agree in details of manufacture. Of these, three form a 

 part of the ''Cook Collection," and there is every I'eason to believe 

 were obtained by Cook himself. Two of the others were obtained 

 by Mr. Hedley. 



To all intents and purposes the Oiinep consists of a plaited 

 cord, varying in length from six to thirteen inches, having 

 an " eye " at one end and an " over-hand " knot or a " grummet- 

 head " at the other, but the details of manufacture and the 

 materials used are very varied. 



The Cord. — This is plaited either on the plan of "square-sinnef" 

 or '■ flat-sinnet," i.e., in the first the cord is so constructed as to 

 have four angles, the sides either flat or hollowed, and in cross- 



* La Nouvelle Cal^donie et ses Habitants, 1862, p. 185. 



t Oc^anie, ou cinquieme partie du Monde, &c., 1863, iii., pi. 253. 



j Album, Joe. cii., 2(1 ser. t. 67, f. 11. 



§ Ibid., 1st ser., t. 127, f. 5. 



II Les Canaques de la Nouvelle Calt^donie, 1895, p. 87. 



