Ernerice—Some Implements, etc., of the Alligator Tribe, Port Essington. 231 
either by means of gum-cement alone, or the heads are fitted into the hollow ends of 
the reeds and then plastered over, being either plain or variously ornamented with 
pipeclay. One of these spears, termed Maleagemmah-ojalie, consists of a sapling 
shaft, with white spiral lines on the head and three white rings at each end. The 
length of the shaft is six feet ten inches, that of the head two feet nine inches, the 
total length therefore being nine feet seven inches. 
The four other spears of this group have reed shafts, and seem to be known 
simply as Maleagemmah. The proximal and distal ends of the shaft in one instance 
are tipped with pipeclay, the latter extending on to the base of the hardwood head, 
Another has the proximal end of the shaft lashed with twine and cupped for the 
womerah-peg, whilst a third is simply covered with gum. The gum-cement may be 
ruddled, like the shafts, smeared with pipeclay, or of its original colour, black. The 
heavier of these spears measures—shaft, seven feet two inches; head, one foot eleven 
inches ; total, nine feet one inch ;—whilst the lighter is as follows—shaft, five feet ; 
head, two feet one inch ; total seven feet one inch. 
According to Eyre, the Maleagemmah-ojalie is called Atko,* and the Jalea- 
gemmah is termed Karkuroo,t but he is indefinite as to locality. The reed spear of 
the Victorian Aborigines to a great extent resembles that of the north coast. Smyth 
states that by the Goulburn Blacks it was called 77-ver, Da-aar, Dyer-rer, or 
Jar-aor, the reed being Phragmites communis, but other names are given to the same 
weapon on the River Murray. The union between the shaft and head is effected by 
means of kangaroo sinews and gum-cement.£ 
Generally similar to the J/alagemmah, but smaller, is a small series spoken of 
by Mr. Stockdale as “ Goose-spears,” the largest only measuring five feet six inches, 
shaft and head (shaft four feet, head one foot six inches). The spears differ from one 
another only in total length, and relative length of shaft and head. The latter, of 
hardwood, are round and very sharply pointed. Twine and gum-cement whitened 
are placed at both ends of the shafts, and in one specimen the nodes of the reed-shaft 
are transversely banded with pipeclay. The proximal ends are cupped. 
This spear is thrown with the 2z/Vetta womerah, and through the courtesy of 
Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Hedley and myself had an opportunity of witnessing, by his black 
servant, the method of throwing, and the astonishing results of this combination of 
weapons. In throwing, an inclination is given about equal to that of an arrow 
leaving a bow. It was cast one hundred yards with the greatest ease, and had space 
allowed evidently might have been propelled much further. The accuracy of aim 
* Journ. Exped. Discovery Central Australia, &c., 1845, II. t. 2, f. 8. 
+ Ibid. f. 3 and 4. 
+ Aborigines of Victoria, 1878, I. p. 305. 
