208 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



A third illustration is given by Mr. R. B. Smyth ^ as a " meat 

 cutter or native knife," and termed dahha. He likens the handle 

 to a portion of a spear shaft, and states that the gum used as a 

 cementing medium is that of the " Grass Tree " (Xanthorrhoea). 

 Smyth sagely remarks that " it looks like a saw, but it is really 

 a knife, and is employed by the natives to cut flesh." Three chips 

 are shown in his figure. 



A further figure of this implement is given by Edge-Partington'^ 

 from a West Australian specimen in the Heape Collection, with 

 five teeth, and twenty-one inches long. lie says glass or 

 quartz are used, and for the cementing medium " Black-boy " 

 (Xaiithorrhcea) gum. 



The second type of knife is that now figured, the only other 

 illustration known to me being the already quoted figure by 

 Edge-Partington. In all probability it is used more for flaying 

 than cutting, for when residing at Cape York, many years ago, 

 Mr. J, A. Thorpe, Taxidermist to this Museum, saw a similar 

 implement used for flaying wallaby by the Yardikin and Unduamo 

 Tribes of that neighbourhood. 



4 Smyth— Aborigines of Victoria, i., 1878, p. 341, f. 151. 



J Edge-Partington — Album, 1st series, 1890, pi. cccxlviii., f. 4. 



