•J04 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSKUM. 



the apices, which are obtusely rounded ; the lateral margins are 

 parallel in the central region, and slightly converging at the ends. 

 Both surfaces are raddled, the outer decorated with three pipeclay 

 and four dark-red narrow transverse hands at the centre, with a 

 pipeclay panel occupying the whole of each apex. The handle 

 or holdfast, on the inside, is of the ordinary pattern, but rather 

 larger than usual.] 



22. On the Lower Tully River the shield or pi-kan is made 

 from Ficus chretioides, F.v.M. (MAL. magura) and from another 

 timber, not identified, but known to the local Mallanpara Blacks 

 as keba. It is cut from the tree on similar lines as the boomerang. 

 A curved incision is made in the flange both alove and below, 

 and the spur next chipped about half-way through 

 on either side along the lines required (PL lix., fig. G), 

 and the piece then hammered or pushed out Such shields are 

 therefore not exactly oval, their shape on one edge depending 

 upon the greater or less concavity of the flange. After this 

 piece has l>een removed it is chipped away on both surfaces, 

 except at the centres, which remain ; in section, this stage of its 

 manufacture would be represented in PI. lix., fig. 7. To the cen- 

 tral boss on the front of the shield nothing more is done for the 

 present, though it may subsequently he shaved down a little ; into 

 the projection at its future back, however, two longitudinal holes 

 are chipped, these being united below by hot cinders, together 

 constitute a handle at the end of the process. The weapon is 

 then lightened by means already detailed 38 , then rubbed down 

 with pumice stone, etc., and finally painted. In the designs of 

 the patterns so depicted (Pi. lix., figs. 8-10) theie is 

 no meaning or interpretation, and on this subject very 

 careful enquiries have been made, both by myself and 

 on my behalf throughout the district ; there may be some 

 three or lour typical styles, but, as a rule, one man copies 

 another's, the copy being either a travesty or an improvement, 

 according to the light in which it is regarded. The front of the 

 shield is called kananja, a word signifying "the inside" in 

 reference to its outside (outer bark) having been removed in 

 course of manufacture. The central projection is the namnia, 

 the back of the shield the chu-cha (=person's back, dorsum), 

 while dumbul (a term signifying the female genitalia) is applied 

 to the handle portion 39 . This manufacture of a shield from the 



3 g Roth— Bull. 7— Suet. 2. 



There is a verj fine series of these shields in the Australian Museum. 

 Se< Etheridge— Journ. Anthrop. Inst., \x\i., 1S96, p. 1-37, pi. vii.— (Ed.). 



