Ahorio/iial W'oodoi Weapons of Australia . 43 



unnecessary, and thus sufficiently accounting for the ignorance 

 of this people of the bow and arrow. The occurrence of imple- 

 ments similar to the wummera in other regions, particularly among 

 some American tribes at the time of the discover}^ and al.so among 

 European palaeolithic remains, is well supported. In these in- 

 stances the wummera antedated the bow and was supplemented 

 by it. Modern investigation points to the antiquity of the Aus- 

 tralian race and its isolation from the Asiatic continent in remote 

 ages. The use of the wummera in this case may therefore be re- 

 garded as the survival of a primitive weapon among a race which 

 has progressed little or not at all since its separation from the rest 

 of mankind, rather than affording evidence of high intelligence. 

 The boomerang and wummera were unknown to the Tasmauian 

 aboriginals, which suggests their emigration from the primitive 

 stock before the discovery of these weapons. 



Many forms of the wummera are in use throughout the country, 

 the shape varying greatly according to the district of mauufacfture. 

 The origin of each individual specimen is of great interest and im- 

 portance, and a systematic description of all the weapons of this 

 region arranged with reference to their source would be of great 

 value. The earliest form of the weapon under consideration con- 

 sisted of an ordinary straight branch, with a projedling twig at one 

 end shaped to furnish the necessary peg. The breaking of the. 

 latter would render the primitive form of weapon useless, and an 

 advance would be made by the substitution of a separate peg of 

 wood or bone attached with tendon and gum. Roughly fashioned 

 implements of thi^ description are common. A new feature in the 

 wummera is seen in No. 1913, Plate II, consisting of a well defined 

 broadening of the middle part of the haft. This was of use for 

 carrying the colored pigments used at initiation and other rites. 

 The peg of this weapon is a piece of shell, part of which has been 

 broken away. The wummera, No. 1910, Plate II, is an extremely 

 light and well made specimen in which the entire haft is adapted for 

 carrying. It is coustrudled of hard red wood, and the peg is neatl)' 

 shaped from a piece of light yellow w^ood. Weapons possessing the 

 broadened haft are known by the name "Amera." They are made 

 in the west and are ornamented on neither side. The handle, 

 formed by a knob of gum, appears to be characfteristic of these 



