BY R. ETHERIDOE, JUXR. 515 



the outer side, the surface is ornamented hj concentric or irregular 

 lines painted in red, white, and yellow, dividing the surface more 

 or less into fields. These shields differ from all others over the 

 Continent, and form vevy striking objects. Smyth figures one 

 from Rockingham Bay, and Lumholtz* from Herbert Vale, 

 Centi-al Queensland. The latter author remarks that the pattern 

 differs on each shield, thereby indicating ownership. 



h. 1 (Wood, Nat. Hist. Man, Vol. Australia, 1870, p. 55, 

 f. 1 and 2, ti/pe.) A large oval shield flat or nearly so on the 

 outer side. Straight along the lateral edges, and rounded top and 

 l)ottoni, with incised ornament on the outside. The hand-hole is 

 countersunk. Neither dimensions nor locality ai^e given by the 

 Rev. G. Wood, but a similar weapon is figured by Dr. Knightf as 

 the " heilaman, or war-shield of N.S. Wales," and is said to be 

 made of the wood of the " gigantic nettle tree." These are the 

 only references relating to this very marked weapon with which I 

 am acquainted. Knight appears to confound it with the Gee-am, 

 but judging from his figure, which quite corresponds with that of 

 Wood, it certainly is not. 



{. 1 (Wood, Loc. cit., p. 56, f. 1, ti/pe.) A short broad, 

 roundly quadrangular shield somewhat convex outside, almost flat 

 inside, and with a countei'sunk hand-hole. Wood's illustration is 

 the only figure of this shield I am acquainted with. It partakes 

 to some extent of the characters of h, but is much shorter and 

 l)roader in proportion. The district in which this shield is used, 

 and the name have yet to be ascertained. 



A tenth well marked type would exist could we accept figures 

 given by Dr. Knight in his description of the Philadelphia weapons 

 previously referred to. He there describes, | as shown in the 

 Victorian section of the Exhibition, and therefore ostensibly from 

 Victoria, large oval cricket bat-shaped shields with a distinct 

 handle, and said to be made of bark. Slight ornamentation occurs 



* Among Cannibals, 1890, p. 120. 

 t Ann, Report Smithsonian Inst, for 1879 [1880], p. 285, f. 135. 

 t Ann. Report Smithsonian Inst, for 1879 [1880], p. 286, f. 136. 



