BY GEORGE HORNE, V.D., M.A., M.D., CH.B. 183 



3,n Tasmania, but is very common in S.E. Victoria. It is 

 made by the pressure of a rounded wooden weapon on the 

 thin edge of the stone. 



This concave implement is often also concave in trans- 

 verse section, and is like the covers of a closed book which 

 stand out beyond the leaves. Gradually friction reduces 

 these sharp edges (which are quite thin, and in this also 

 resemble the covers of a book). Generally, however, a 

 shadow can be seen running longitudinally along the face of 

 the groove, which shows that at first there is a part un- 

 touched by friction. 



The absence of any chipping or irregularity would im- 

 part smoothness to the weapon being worked. The sharp, 

 thin outside edges are the best possible thing for scraping 

 action. 



3. The Channel Groove (Fig. 4) is the third variety, and 

 consists of a concave gutter sometimes 24 mm. long (13 mm. 

 is the longest noted amongst Tasmanians). This gutter 

 frequently dips down at its outside edge, i.e., it is bevelled 

 at the gutter's end. This bevelling would be made by rub- 

 bing the implement on the spear with long sweeps, when its 

 edge would turn over to a slight extent. 



A variant of the channel groove is found in the under- 

 neath groove (Fig. 5). In this the groove, instead of being 

 made on the narrow surface of the stone, is upon its under 

 surface. 



The Tasmanian concaves differ from the Victorian 

 chiefly in the coarseness, strength, and power of the former 

 and the delicacy and fineness common in the latter. 



The Victorian as a rule (though not always) made his 

 concave scraper out of a flake that was chipped first, and 

 had, therefore, always a suitable edge for making this 

 groove upon. 



METHODS OF USE. 



Amongst the Australians a common method is the (1) 

 two-handed or spokeshave method as in the illustration of the 

 Aluritja man (Fig. 8). 



For this photograph I have to thank Dr. Basedow, 

 from his Australian Tribes. This method was sometimes 

 used by the Tasmanians as is seen in Fig. 2b., which shows 

 two thumb-marks for gripping the spokeshave. The Victor- 

 ian often made a long flake first, and chipped marks on it 

 subsequently for steadying fingers or thumbs. They would 

 then break in the concave grooves which completed the 

 spokeshave. 



