HLING CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJKCTTI.K W'KAPONS. (i28 



(lie slinos ai'o IiUo^Yiso rather broad, the hook not fastened to the flat 

 surface l)iit to the ed^e of the shaft. The spear slinks with the hook 

 u})on tlie face are found from Kino- (U'orijes Sound to (leograjjhy 

 Bay." in the iircat west Australian desert, in Xullai»ine. on the table- 

 hind, and by the Sherlock Kiver.'' The second kiiul is therefore 

 restricted to West Australia. It is a thin, extremely broad, long-oval 

 board. oft(>ii hollow on the upper side and slightly curved npon the 

 lower, the small wooden hook is set upon the face, so that great wind 

 rt'sistance is overcome during use; why the shaft is so wide is not 

 known: at least, no advantage is to be derived from the breadth. 

 The gri]) is eomi)osed of a lump of gum, ai)plied either symmetrically 

 or slightlv sidewise. from which protrudes a piece of shell or stone, 

 the latter serving for a firmer grip, sharpening the spear points, and 

 aenerally as a cutting instrument, since it has an edge.'' This type of 

 spear sling is (piite abundant (pi. i. fig. -5). The type found among 

 the Xannines (West Australia)'' is similar, it is a not very broad, 

 parallel-sided, flat stick, about 1.20 meters long, tapering at both 

 ends. The Avooden hook is attached above, on the face, a piece of 

 gum is applied for a grip, in which is a piece of shell or stone 

 (pi. I, fig. 4). This leads to the type used from Beagle Bay north- 

 ward as far as Port Darwin," at Carpenter Gulf, and in the northern 

 territory of South Australia i'^ perhaps even farther inland to the 

 Eiry Lake.'' The shaft is of nearly the same form as the preceding, 

 execept that it is not parallel-sided, but tapers toward the outer end. 

 The grip is clearly defined and allows a firm grasp. The hook being 

 bound to the shaft with cords and gum, the entire shaft is then 

 covered with a reddish earth. Decorative figures are often carved 

 upon the sides (pi. i, fig. 5). 



The type found from Port Darwin to Port Essington and on INIel- 

 \ ille Island is (piite as flat, narrow, and pointed," it dift'ers from the 

 foregoing in that the shafts are bent and very elastic. The handle 

 consists of a pear-shaped piece of gum. That part of the sliaft next 

 the grip is ornamented in lines. What advantage these particular 

 shafts present is not known, as they are elastic, they permit a bow 

 thrust, and at all events, they make throwing a greater distance pos- 

 sible. They are quite rare (pi. i, fig. <')). A class which but partly 



a According to v. Luschan : Das Wurfholz in Neu-Hollnnd und Oceanien, p. 

 138. 



6 According to statements found witli the shafts in the Leipzic Museum of 

 Kthnograpliy (Grassi Museum). 



(■ Schurtz : Urgeschichte der Kultur, p. 389. 



<i Four examples of tliis tjpe are in the Leipziger Museum fiir Vollcerkunde. 



f After \ . Luschan : Das Wurfholz. p. 140. 



f .\ccording to statements on the shafts in the Leiiizie Museum. 



.'V After King. See Waitz : Anthropologic der Naturvijiker. VI. p. 742 et seq. 



