NOllTll QUEENSLAND ETHNOGUAPIIY — UOTII. 



53 



Fig. 30/'. 



of the positions assumed in this manipulation, wliich required no 

 small amount of strength, judgment and skill. The outer layer 

 of bark, not being required, is now cast aside. The next stage 

 in the procedure is to find a suitable tree— suitable in the 

 sense that it has a comparatively large root-branch exposed above 

 the surrounding ground-surface 

 which can be cleared of its bark, 

 and used as a table. Upon this 

 convex table, the oblong sheet of 

 internal bark is placed, and ham- 

 mered on its inner surface with a 

 piece of wood (fig. 30e) shaped 

 like a narrow cricket-bat with 

 handle cut-short, the whole imple- 

 nient measuring about twenty- 

 four by two inches. The blows 

 are inflicted (fig. 30/) with the 

 bat's edge struck sharply in a 

 slanting dix'ection at an angle 

 with the run of the fibre, consider- 

 able force and rapidity being brought into requisition. During 

 this process the bark-sheet (drawn as it gradually is more and 

 more towards the operator) gets struck in its entirety, simul- 

 taneously becoming softer and more pliable, thinner, and 

 correspondingly-increased in surface area. Doubled on its outer 

 side, so as to leave its inner surface again exposed, it is again 

 hammered along the same lines of direction as before, the doubling, 

 pounding, etc., being further twice repeated until what may now 

 be called the blanket is folded into a pack- 

 age, about a foot long, a size just convenient 

 for carrying in a dilly-bag. The sketch 

 (fig. 30^') will illustrate the method o 

 doubling which takes place; T draw special 

 ]{] attention to this because the other examples 

 only met with in the Cairns and Cardwell 

 Districts are folded on almost identical 

 lines. The blanket is next opened out 

 and exposed to the sun with a view to getting all the moisture 

 out. The particular one under consideration measured on 

 completion four feet by two feet four inches, and took 

 between five and six hours to make. It proved of still further 

 interest in that I had an opportunity of watching the operator 



Fip. 30^. 



