SLING CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 623 



the sliiifjs are likoAvise rather broad, the hook not fastened to the flat 

 surface hut to the ed^e of the shaft. The spear slings with the hook 

 upon the face are found from King (reorges Sound to (xcography 

 Bay." in the great west Australian desert, in Xullagine, on the table- 

 land, and by the Sherlock Eiver.^ The second kind is therefore 

 restricted to West Australia. It is a thin, extremely broad, long-oval 

 board, often hollow on the upper side and slightly curved upon the 

 lower, the small wooden hook is set upon the face, so that great Avind 

 resistance is overcome during use; why the shaft is so wide is not 

 known; at least, no advantage is to be derived froui the breadth. 

 The grip is composed of a lump of gum, applied either synunetrically 

 or slightly sidewise. from which protrudes a piece of shell or stone, 

 the latter serving for a firmer grip, sharpening the spear points, and 

 generally as a cutting instrument, since it has an edge.'" This type of 

 spear sling is quite abundant (pi. i. fig. 3). The type found among 

 the tannines (West Australia)'' is similar, it is a not very Ijroad, 

 parallel-sided, flat stick, about 1.20 meters long, tapering at both 

 ends. The wooden hook is attached above- on the face, a piece of 

 gum is applied for a grip, in which is a piece of shell or stone 

 (pl. I, fig. 4). This leads to the type used from Beagle Bay north- 

 ward as far as Port Darwin,' at Carpenter Gulf, and in the northern 

 territory of South Australia \^ perhaps even farther inland to the 

 Eiry Lake.^ The shaft is of nearly the same form as the preceding, 

 execept that it is not parallel-sided, but tapers toward the outer end. 

 The grip is clearly defined and allows a firm grasp. The hook being 

 bound to the shaft with cords and gum, the entire shaft is then 

 covered with a reddish earth. Decorative figures are often carved 

 upon the sides (pl. i, fig. T)). 



The type found from Port Darwin to Port Essington and on JNIel- 

 ville Island is quite as flat, narrow, and pointed," it differs from the 

 foregoing in that the shafts are l)ent and very elastic. The handle 

 consists of a pear-shaped piece of gum. That part of the shaft next 

 the grip is ornamented in lines. What advantage these ])articular 

 shafts present is not known, as they are elastic, they permit a bow 

 thrust, and at all events, they make throwing a greater distance pos- 

 sible. They are quite rare (pl. i, fig. (')). A class which but partly 



n According to v. Luschan : Das Wurfholz in Neu-Holland und Oceanien, p. 

 1.H8. 



'' According to statements found with tlie shafts in the Leipzic Museum of 

 Etlmograpliy (Grassi Museum). 



<" Schurtz : Urgeschichte der Kultur. p. 3.39. 



d Four examples of tliis type are in the Leipziger ATuseum fiir VJHkorkunde. 



e After \. Luschan: Das Wurfholz. p. 140. 



f According to statements on the shafts in tlio L(Mi)zic Museum. 



» After King. See Waitz ; Authropologie der Naturvollvcr, VI. p. 742 et seq. 



