BY FRITZ NOETLING, M.A., PH.D., ETC 6l 



probably the most comprehensive, does not enumerate 

 more t'han 1 135 words, some of which are unquestionably 

 adopted (2). It is more than probable to assume that, 

 however limited the vocabulary of Aborigines may have 

 been, a fair number of words have not been handed over 

 to us. However that may be, a -combination of the 

 results of mineralogical and morphological studies, to- 

 gether with a careful examination of the vocabulary, has 

 led to some very interesting results. 



In the first instance, however incomplete the vocabu- 

 lary may be, it is certain that the Tasmanian language 

 had no special word for some of the most important 

 implements in the economic life of the human race. 

 These implements are : — 



1. Knife. 



2. Axe or Hatdhet. 



3. Saw. 



To which we may add 



4. Bow. 



5. Arrow. 



6. Spear or Lance Head. 



It may be taken as granted that the Tasmanian language 

 had no distinguishing words for the above-mentioned 

 six implements. Consequently it is certain that the civi- 

 lisation of the Tasmanian Aborigines did not know these 

 implements, because, if it had, there would have cer- 

 tainly been words to designate them, and if sudh words 

 had existed we would find them in the vocabulary, 

 because it is improbable to assume that those who com- 

 piled the vocabulary of the Aborigines could have over- 

 looked the words for these all-important implements 

 had they existed and been used by fh'e Aborigines. 



Scott, who was probably the first who made a study 

 of the Tasmanian Archaeolithes, designates them as fol- 

 lows (3):— 



Flint or a knife = teroona, trawootta. 



(2) For instance it is obvious that the Tasmanian word 

 " backalow " or " bacala " for bullock is derived from the 

 English, considering that no cattle existed in Tasmania previous 

 to the arrival of the Europeans. 



(3) Letter on the Stone Implements of the Tasmanian 

 Aborigines. Papers and Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 

 for 1873-1874, page 24. 



