508 FIVE SHIELDS FROM XORTHERX QUEENSLAND, 



On the outside of the shield there are still remaining traces of 

 red colour at either end immediately within the transverse incised 

 bars. 



Lumholtz has figured* two shields of quite the same shape 

 from " Central Queensland," and the hand-hole is also counter- 

 sunk similarly. One has transverse end bars like the present 

 weapon, and the ornament is produced by incision — three rhombs, 

 and two half-rhombs in the centre, and five half-rhombs along 

 each side in vertical series. The other has a central broad plain 

 zone divided by an incised bar. Above and below the central 

 zone are three transverse rows of quadrangular incisions, six to 

 eight in a row. 



I am not aware that a similar adaption of a turtle-shell has 

 been recorded amongst Al^original implements, but my impression 

 is that it has not. Australian shields comprise but a limited 

 number of forms, and so far as I know, are invariably made either 

 of wood or prepared bark. The second shield is, therefore, a 

 particularly interesting one. The shield is remarkably well 

 shaped, oval in outline, and forming a very handy weapon of 

 defence. It has been reduced from the cai'apace of a Green 

 Turtle (Chelone my das, Linn.) apparently by sawing, and the 

 rough edges bevelled off. Externally, the fabricator had com- 

 menced the removal of the tortoise-shell, but apparently finding 

 that it detracted from the beauty of the weapon desisted, and 

 contented himself, after the manner of his race, by plastering the 

 surface with white jjipe clay, traces of which still remain in the 

 epidermic fittings and grooves of the bone structure. The median 

 line of the shield was traversed by a broad band of red ruddle, and 

 there are two similar transverse bands equidistant from each end. 

 These are now in a great measure obliterated. The weight is two 

 and a half pounds. The style of colouring is essentially after the 

 type of the Goolmarri/ used in the Mackay District, North 

 Queensland, but on the inner side the weapon is obviously 

 quite devoid of colour or ornament of any kind. The 



* Among Cannibals, 1890, \). 333. 



