196 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Capt. [Commodore] J. E. Erskine, R.N., saw at Port Resolu- 

 tion, Taiina, " a stone of the shape of that by whicli scythes 

 are sharpened in England, and about a foot long, which they 

 make from the coral rock, and use either for striking or 

 throwing." 23 This was confirmed in the first instance by 

 A. H. Kiehl, who stated that on Tanna " branches of coral 

 rock, about a foot in length and one or two inches in diameter, 

 are used along with the other weapons. They throw them 

 at each other." 2* And the same is also mentioned by Dr. C. 

 E. Meinicke.25 



That both coral and basalt missiles are, or were, used on 

 Tanna appears to be a fact well established for long before 

 either Capt. Erskine or Mr. Kiehl saw them at Port Resolu- 

 tion, that grand old navigator and authority, Capt. James 

 Cook, R.N., wrote thus, through his historian-author, 

 Hawkeswortli : — " The stones thej use are, in general, the 

 branches of coral rocks fi'om eight to fourteen inches long, 

 and from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. I know 

 not if they employ them as missiles." 26 



The New Hebridean island, Futuna, must not be mistaken 

 for Fotuna, one of the Hoorne Islands, away to the north-east 

 of Fiji. Unfortunately both are sometimes used by Authors 

 with an o, and again both with a it. It would save confusion 

 and tribulation of spirit if Futuna of tlie New Hebrides were 

 simply known by its native name of Erronan. By Cook it 

 was called " Footoona." 



Stick missiles are used by the natives of Nieue, or Savage 

 Island. Mr. J. L. Brenchley said that stalagmites were 

 employed as missiles, obtained fr'om pools in the interior of 

 the island. " They are made use of as projectiles in their 

 combats, and which they adroitly throw without the aid of 

 a sling." 27 



23 Erskine — Journ. Cruise Islands W. Pacific, 1853, p. 319. 

 2-» Kiehl— Anthropologia, I., 1873-5, p. 135. 



25 Meinicke— Die Inseln des Stillen Oceans, 1875, p. 203. 



26 Hawkesworth — Cook's Voyage towards the South Pole and round the 

 World, 1772-75, 3rd Edit., II., 1779, p. 82. 



2'? Brenchley — Cruise of H.M.S. Cura^oa among the South Sea Islands 

 in 1865, pp. 25 and 28. 



