6'20 SLING CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 



away. The knot at the end is retained and sliows a small excavation. 

 The spear belonging to this. 2.50 to 3 meters long, has in the middle, 

 near the center of gravity, a short hook bent backward, artistically 

 fastened to the shaft with a rattan or bast binding. In use, the spear 

 is laid lengthwise in the furrow of the sling, but in such manner that 

 the little Avooden hook catches into the hollow at the knot." The 

 sjDear thus has a support in throwing outward and releasing, but still 

 does not lie firndy enough to enable it to hit a nuirk. To achieve 

 that, and to assure a certain direction of flight, an attached piece is 

 placed between the beginning of the groove and the grip, always 

 lying in a groove by itself. Beginning at the grip, it rises at a slant 

 of some 10 centimeters above the beginning of the groove and is 

 securely bound to the shaft with string bands. It does not lie on a line 

 with the spear groove, but alongside and parallel. It is whittled from 

 wood and ornamented with great care, the favorite forms carved 

 Ix'ing those of animals, kangaroo, rhinoceros birds, and crocodiles 

 frequently appearing as attached pieces, often completely convention- 

 alized so that their meaning is obscured (pi. i, lig. 12). 



As already. indicated, the purpose is to give the spear a firm sup- 

 port to hinder its gliding off. In use, therefore, the hook is inserted 

 into the cavity, the spear laid into the groove with the right side 

 leaning against the attached piece, where it is tightly pressed with 

 the thumb, the fingers clasping the grip, the attached piece here 

 taking the plaue, so to speak, of fingers (v. Luschan). The grip 

 is simply the smooth reed, seldom ornamented, but often covered 

 with plaited Avork, so that the hand has a firm hold, while at the 

 knot are all kinds of decorations, notched carvings and plaited bands, 

 which are at the same time to hold the reed from splitting. The 

 motion in slinging off is the same as with the Australian spear slings 

 (pi. I, figs. l:raiid i;3a). 



All other spear slings in Melanesia and Micronesia are wilhout 

 attached piece. They have probably died out here entirely, for 

 examples are little known. There are many reports of their appear- 

 ance in this district, but the fact is announced without giving pre- 

 cise description of the stick and its weapon. AVaitz mentions spear 

 slings of the Fiji Islands. (Anthropologic der Naturvolker, VI, p. 

 597 et seq.) The weapons are here beautifully worked. They are 



a Parkinson : Die Berlin-Hafen-Sektion ; Intern. Areliiv., XIII. p. 29. Finsch : 

 Etlmologische Erfahrungen und Bolegstiicke ans der Siidsee : Wien. ISO.'l. p. 

 212, confirmed likewise by Doctor T^iose in a verbal contribution to Doctor 

 Woulc in Leii)zig. Doctor Lirsc was in Now (ininoa for a long time and tliero 

 saw tills pruotice, and upon his rc>turn brought several examples which are now 

 in the museum at Leipzig. Doctor AN'cnlc demonstrated with these. Compare 

 tbennvith v. Luschan: Das Wurfliolz, p. 148, whose opinion, accordingly, is 

 incorrect. 



