700 ON A FORM OF WOMERAH, OR "THROWING-STICK," 



Eyre figured four different kinds of womerah, varying in 

 their width, sectional outline, and shape, but all with the mounted 

 kangaroo tooth at the proximal end, and a lump of gum, or gum 

 and a stone, at the distal extremity. The width, and in conse- 

 quence the shape, differs in all four types, but in the narrowest 

 there is a flattened surface on which the spear could, if necessary, 

 lie. 



The late Mr. R. B. Smyth figured* five types from Victoria and 

 two from West Australia. The Victorian womerahs, all but one, 

 belong to the shield-shaped pattern, the exception being a mere 

 stick. The distal end is either mounted with a tooth, as 

 described by Eyre, or carved into the form of a hook, whilst the 

 proximal extremity is devoid of any check to the hand at all. The 

 stick-like womerah is a very rude and rough weapon. Smyth 

 stated that the womerah was known to the Yarra Tribe as 

 Kur-reeky or Gur-reek ; by the Goulburn (Victoria) Tribe called 

 Murri-wun ; or at Lake Tyers in Gippsland Merri-wun ; on the 

 Lower Murray River, Moor-oona ; and by others Meera or 

 Womerah. The West Australian throwing-stick is much more 

 shield-shaped than any of the others, and is mounted at the 

 proximal end with gum, whilst a hardwood peg at the opposite 

 end does duty for the kangaroo incisor. 



The womerah from North- West Australia is again of a some- 

 what different type, much longer and rather spatula-like, without 

 a check to the hand at the proximal end, but, on the contrary, a 

 portion cut out to accommodate the hand of the thrower. Smyth 

 remarked on the West Australian womerahs : — " The flat shield- 

 like womerahs in my collection are made of djarrah, and are very 

 thin and well polished. They are not ornamented in any way. 

 The point for receiving the end of the spear is made of very hard 

 white wood, and is fastened to the head with gum ; and there is a 

 lump of gum at the end, so placed as to prevent the implement 

 from slipping in the hand. The length is one foot ten inches, and 



* Aborigines of Victoria, 1878, i., p. 309. 



