98 NOTES ON TllK lIUNTIXd STICKS, ETC. 



jjrobable that his dog, having caught the kangaroo, the 

 "wild native'" throws first his spear at it, and then "runs 

 to kill it with his waddy. ' I ratuer feel inclined to think 

 that the ''wild native" is shown, though in a picturesque 

 attitude, armed uith spear and hunting stick, is not rejDr?- 

 sented quit« truthfully. This certainly applies to the loin 

 cloth which our "wild native" is wearing on his hunting 

 expedition, which is rather a concession to the public of 

 1836 than a true fact. 



Again, it appears to me very probable that the engrav 

 ing ought to be reversed, because the wild native is holding 

 the spear in his left and the hunting stick in his right. 



We can sum up the value of the Duterau engravings 

 as evidence regarding the Tasmanian Aborigines as follows : 



(1) On the whole these engravings are somewhat fanci- 

 ful compositions, which were probably made in the studio 

 from rough sketches drawn from life. 



(2) It is very probable that all the engravings were 

 transferred directly, instead of inversely, on the copper 

 plate. Hence the prints are all reversed. This detracts 

 somewhat of their value with regard to any conclusions that 

 may be drawn as to the use of the hands. Yet, even if it 

 is admitted that the pictures ought to be reversed, it seems 

 that the Aborigines used their left hand as often as their 

 right, and were therefore ambidextrous (2). 



(3) The use of a loin cloth, with which the Aborigines 

 are provided in all the engravings, is a concession to the 

 public, but not an actual fact. 



(4) Notwithstanding these' drawbacks the engravings 

 are of great value, because they prove at least two facts 

 which have hitherto been without corroboration, viz. : (a) 

 That the spears were straightened by being gripped with 

 the teeth and bent with both hands, moving probably in 

 upwai'd direction ; (b) that the hunting stick was used to 

 kill an animal by a blow. They further confirm the view 

 a-s to the holding of the stone implement (tero-watta). 

 and the hunting stick (highrana), as depicted, fully agrees 

 in shape, even as details are concerned with the specimens 

 described in this paper. 



P.S. — since the above was written the orifjinal oil pitinting from wliieli No. i 

 engravintr was niiule, and which is now in the possession of the Misses Clehurn, has 

 come to lipht. This pjiintirc fully confirms my conjecture that all the encnivinRs 

 should be revised, because in the original the man holds the scraper in his right 

 and not in his left as it appears in the engravings. 



(2) This theory Is confirmed by certain tero-watta which can only 

 have been used with the left hand, If they were held In such a way 

 that the thumbs rested on the Pollical faci» 



