624 SLING CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 



belongs to tliis group is used on the Murray River. The grip is 

 very long and cylindrical: the shaft then swells to a broad central 

 portion, arched underneath and flat on top, which graduates toAvard 

 the outer end and terminates into a rounded staff, where a kangaroo 

 tooth is fastened. The grip is made rough or has opossum fur applied 

 to prevent the slipping of the fingers. This kind forms the transition 

 to the second type, the rounded stick (pi i, fig. 5). 



The second group of the first type is of broader or narrower shafts, 

 to which the hook is attached, not upon the face, but upon the edge. 

 They are found i:)articularly upon the Cape York Peninsula and in 

 northern Queenland; perhaps also in New South Wales. Certain 

 variations again appear Avithin this type : On one kind, usual on Cape 

 York Peninsula, two long oval shells are attached slantingly above. 

 AYhether these serve merely as a grip for the hand or some further 

 advantage is to be attained through them is not known (pi. i, fig. 8). 



Another kind, also from Cape York Peninsula, is substantially 

 narrower and shorter and does not have the shell, but a quite smooth 

 grip, which, however, has distinct lashings. It may be that the shell 

 has been lost; in that event both these types would be in a single 

 group (pi. I, fig. 9). Lastly, a third type similar to the boomerang 

 occurs in northern Queensland. As the tooth protrudes beyond the 

 edge, it is quite probable that this shaft Avas also a boomerang, 

 and is a doubly useful weaj)on (pi. i, fig. 10.) Only Avith these 

 three weapons is it possible to sAving the stick in a circle, accord- 

 ing to \. Liischan's principle. But at all events, as the hook is on 

 the edge, these three types serve to develop the utmost slinging 

 force of the shaft, for by it the Avind resistance is easily overcome 

 and distance and accuracy substantially increased. These are, per- 

 haps, the most perfect spear slings in Australia. One reported by 

 Klemm "■ may also belong here, as it occurs at Port Jackson and in 

 the Adcinity of Sydney. He merely says that a natiA'e attained a 

 distance of 276 feet Avith the spear sling. He characterizes the 

 implements generally as 5 feet long, with a small peg or hook at the 

 outer end and a shell at the opposite for ornament, Avhich serves as a 

 grip. 



The second type of the second group presents long, rounded shafts, 

 and is usual in northeastern Australia, especially in the northern 

 territory. These are plain, rounded shafts about 1.20 meters long, 

 tapering slightly toward the outer end. The grip is thickened by 

 means of concentric layers of gum ^ or Avound Avith cords twisted 

 from human hair, shoAving a large tuft at the end,'" and the hook is a 



a Klejiini : Werkzeug nnd Waffen, p. 31 ot so(i. 



6 According to v. Luschan ; Das Wudfbolz. pp. 142-I4:>. 



c Scbmeltz : Intern. Arch., 1, p. 13G et seq. ; Uble : Intern. Arch., 1. p. 100. 



