BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 369 



ii.— Hafted Axes. 



Under this name I propose to separate one of the largest forms 

 of stone " tomahawk " used by the Australian aborigines. That 

 such very large and heavy implements as described by the Rev. 

 P. MacPherson from the Paterson River,* measuring 8 J x 5 J x 1^ 

 inches, and weighing 4ft). 7oz. ; from Lake Tyers by Smyth,-)" 

 measuring 6 J x 3£ x 1 J, and weighing IS). 12^oz. ; and by myself 

 from Ki in be Hey,! were put to the same purposes as the generally 

 smaller tools usually known under the name of tomahawks, is, I 

 think, very improbable, if not negatified by their own weight and 

 appearance. Mr. Smyth also quotes§ a similar large axe from the 

 Paroo River, South-west Queensland. " It is an oval-shaped 

 weapon, highly finished, and, for a great extent around the 

 cutting edge, well polished," measuring Sin. x 6in. x 2in., and 

 about four pounds in weight. 



He again remarks : " The natives of some parts of Victoria 

 had large stone axes made of basaltic rock, which were used for 

 splitting trees." One was 8x5x2, and four pounds eight ounces 

 in weight. Another found at Ballarat was 8x4, and about five 

 pounds avoirdupois. These were grooved, and "implements of 

 this size are very rare."|| 



The forms of these axes, in themselves typical, at once dis- 

 tinguish them from the ordinary tomahawk. 



A very fine example has been presented to the Mining and 

 Geological Museum by Mr. H. A. Maclean, from Mogul Creek, 

 Bulloo River, Thargomindah. It is a very large and heavy oval 

 pebble of dark green diorite, the shape of which has been cleverly 

 taken advantage of to produce a large, beautifully curved, and 

 very perfect cutting edge. The widest portion of the axe is 

 immediately at the hind termination of the latter. At the butt 

 slightly and along one of the edges, the bulk has been reduced 



* Journ. R. Soc. N. S. Wales for 1S85 [1886], xix., p. 115, 1st PI., f. 5. 



t Aborigines of Victoria, 1878, I., p. 366, f. 178. 



% Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1890, v. (2), t. 14. 



§ Loc. cit>, p. 376. 



|| Loc. cit., p. 361. 



