SAVAGE WEAPONS AT THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 227 



not, however, been reached by the natives of all parts of this island, 

 which is almost as large as the United States and Territories. The 

 boomerang (Fig. 27), used with such singular dexterity by the "black 



Fig. 27.— Boomerangs of New South Wales. 



fellows" of New South Wales, is almost unknown to those of the colony 

 of South Australia, which, by the bye, is not the most southerly portion 

 of the island, that position being occupied by the thriving colony of 

 Victoria. The boomerang is, however, used in Western Australia, where 

 it is called a kg-lie. This is a true return-boomerang. 36 Even in the 

 districts where the boomerang is used there are all grades of throwing - 

 sticks, three of which of different forms were in the New South Wales 

 exhibit, and are shown in Fig. 28. The upper one is carved with raised 

 serpentine figures, the stick being painted red in the intervals. With 

 these weapons the natives give a direct blow, a whirling blow, or a 

 ricochet upward rebounding blow. 



The boomerang is made of the wood of the blue gum (Eucalyptus glob- 



Fio. 28.— Australian throwingsticks, Victoria. 



vim), or sometimes from the iron-bark of the she-oak, and is of flatted 

 curved shape, convex on the upper surface and flat below, always 

 thickest in the middle, from which it is scraped away towards both 

 edges, which are tolerably sharp, especially the outer one. Boomerangs 

 vary much in shape, but do not depart from the characteristics men- 

 tioned. They differ in their curves, lengths, widths, taper, and weight. 

 3 " Aborigines of Victoria, vol. i, 33G, Fiy. 140. 



