78 NOTES ON THK HUNTING STICKS, ETC. 



ary length ; uoiie of tlie above seven specimens is under 3 

 metres in length. This extraordinary length will only be 

 fully realised if a perenna is held by a man of average 

 height. 



The above measurements agree very well with the state- 

 ments made by most of the former observei-s, but Melville 

 mentions that they were varying in length from 5 to 8 feet, 

 while Henderson says that they were commonlv 6 feet in 

 length. I cannot help thinking that both these statements 

 arc not quits correct, because the majoritv of obsei'vers 

 agree that the spears were at least 10 feet (3 metres) in. 

 length. The longest I examined has a length of 4.457 

 m^eti'es (14 feet 7h inches), but according to La Billardiere 

 they reached a length from 16 to 18 feet (5 to 6 metr. app.). 



However that may be, we may safely assume that on 

 the average the perenna had a length of 4 metres — 13 feet 

 (the average of the above seven spears is 3.917 metres), and 

 though occasionally smaller or larger specimens were used, 

 the minimum length did not go below 3 metres (10 feet). 



The next remarkable feature is the small thickness ; 

 tne thickest (No. 6) does not measure more than 23 mm. 

 (0.9 inch) at its thickest part, while the thinnest (No. 5) is 

 only half of this thickness. The thickest part is always 

 just behind the point, and from there the perenna tapei-s 

 almost immeasurably to the oppcsite end, which apparently 

 does not exceed 6 mm. (^ inch) in thickness, but comes down 

 as low as 3 mm. (J inch) (18). Widowson says that the 

 spears were "as thick as the little finger of a man,' but 

 other observers, except Mrs. Prinscp. took very little notice 

 of this feature. Yet it is an important one: the extreme 

 thinness of the hinder end, in conjunction with the peculiar 

 position of the centre of gravity, precludes the use of a 

 woomera or throwing stick. Even if it were possible to 

 grip the thin hind end in tho hook of the woomera, the 

 heavy pointed end would hang down to such an extent that 

 it would be practically impossible to throw the spear. Hand 

 in hand with the great thinness goes lightness ; the heaviest 

 (No. 2) weighs only 914 1-3 grammes (21b. ^oz.). and the 

 lightest (No. 5) weighs only 283A gi'ammes (lOoz.), the aver- 

 age being 613 grammes (1 ^Ib. a.d. app.). Of course, it 

 might have been anticipated that being no thicker than the 

 little finger of a man. the spears were light, notwithstand- 

 ing their great length, but nobody has apparently noticed 



(18) I may mention that the ends of every one of the specimens 

 examined were broken off. and they may, therefore, have been somewhat 

 longfr and also thinner at the end. 



