34 Diirc/or's Ainiual Report. 



specimens, as compared with the achievements of other primitive 

 people. The peculiar bent of the Australian chara(5ter and also its 

 undeveloped condition are alike illustrated by these two features. 



A remarkable similarity of design is found in the weapons of 

 this vast region, due, in great measure, to an extensive sy.stem of 

 barter which was established throughout the country in early times. 

 As a rule the manufa(5lure of a specific form of implement was the 

 produdlion of a special tribe or locality, which in some cases was 

 celebrated to great distances for the skill and perfe(5lion of its 

 work. Articles displaying the highest finish and best taste in 

 decoration were principally derived from the north and west. No 

 particular class of men was engaged solely in barter, but each man 

 set out as necessity or inclination led, accompanied or alone, and 

 bearing the produdls of his own industry. Well defined trade 

 routes, upon which the traveller was free from molestation, con- 

 verged in recognized bartering grounds, where large numbers of 

 natives were often congregated. The usual time for these barter- 

 ing expeditions was the winter, as dependenc}' on water compelled 

 the journey to be undertaken when this could be obtained. For 

 this reason the routes followed the water holes and river beds, and 

 in some cases they may represent the course of the original distri- 

 bution of the race, and may have been in use since that early time. 

 The less frequented bartering tracks were often marked by stones 

 or other objecfts placed at intervals to direct the stranger. A trader 

 would sometimes make his presence known by smoke and fire 

 signals, upon recognizing which others would assemble. One 

 frequent artifice to attract attention was to cover a smoking fire at 

 regular intervals, by means of which an intermittent column of 

 smoke was produced. The hovering of birds over the wayfarer 

 also served as an index to the presence of the trader. 



The rare occurrence of the valued quartz quarries, so frequent- 

 ly resorted to by makers of spear heads and cutting instruments, 

 and their jealous possession by local tribes, also tended to confine 

 the produ6lion of special articles in individual centres and to stim- 

 ulate the custom of exchange. The introduction of metal tools 

 and of glass has of recent years depreciated the value of quartz 

 and has also had a detrimental influence on a s\'stem once so prev- 

 alent. To this must be added the frequent hostility of the white 



[174] 



