624 SLING CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 



belongs to tliis oroup is used on the jMurniy River. The grip is 

 very long and cylindrieal : the shaft tlien sv ells to a broad central 

 portion, arched underneath and flat on top, > hich graduates toward 

 the outer end and terminates into a rounded afl', where a kangaroo 

 tooth is fastened. The grip is made rough or opossum fur applied 

 to prevent the slipping of the fingers. This k ' forms the transition 

 to the second type, the rounded stick (pi i, fi ). 



The second group of the first type is of bro i- or narrower shafts, 

 to Avhich the hook is attached, not upon the . ', but upon the edge. 

 They are found particularly upon the Cape ork Peninsula and in 

 northern Queenland; perhaps also in New ooiith Wales. Certain 

 variations again appear within this type : On one kind, usual on Cape 

 York Peninsula, two long oval shells are attadied slantingly above. 

 Whether these serve merely as a grip for tht hand or some further 

 advantage is to be attained through them is not known (pi. i, fig. 8). 



Another kind, also from Cape York Peninsula, is substantially 

 narrower and shorter and does not have the shell, but a quite smooth 

 grip, which, however, has distinct lashings. It may be that the shell 

 has been lost; in that event l)oth these types would be in a single 

 group (pi. I, fig. 1^). Lastly, a third type similar to the boomerang 

 occurs in northern Queensland. As the tooth protrudes beyond the 

 edo-e, it is quite probable that this shaft Avas also a boomerang, 

 and is a doubly useful weapon (pi. i, fig. 10.) Only with these 

 three weapons is it possible to swing the stick in a circle, accord- 

 ing to V. Luschan's principle. But at all events, as the hook is on 

 the edge, these three types serve to develop the utmost slinging 

 force of the shaft, for by it the wind resistance is easily overcome 

 and distance and accuracy substantially increased. These are, per- 

 haps, the most perfect spear slings in Australia. One reported by 

 Klenmi " may also belong here, as it occurs at Port Jackson and in 

 the vicinity of Sydney. lie merely says that a native attained a 

 distance of 27G feet with the spear sling. He characterizes the 

 implements generally as 5 feet long, Avith a small peg or hook at the 

 outer end and a shell at the opposite for ornament, which serves as a 



grip. 



The second type of the second group presents long, rounded shafts, 

 and is usual in northeastern Australia, especially in the northern 

 territory. These are plain, rounded shafts about 1.20 meters long, 

 tapering slightly toward the outer end. The grip is thickened by 

 means of concentric layers of gum '' or wound Avith cords twisted 

 from human hair, showing a large tuft at the end,*- and the hook is a 



a Kleuim : Werkzeug und Waffen. p. .31 et se(i. 



6 According to v. Luschan ; Das Wudfholz. pp. 142-143. 



c Schmeltz: Intern. Arch., 1, p. 136 et seq. ; Ublc: Intern. Arch., T. p. 19G. 



