MESSAGES AND "MESSAGE STICKS/ -—3 JMLTX-HAHIUS. 15 



But one of the most im])ortant uses to which " message stieks" would 

 be put would be that for the purpose of obtainiug barter, when there would 

 be a tendency for the stick to become marked in the same way and in the same 

 definite positions on each occasion, and hence such would be purely " memor.y 

 stieks," and it would be eas.v to imagine that some definite meaning might be 

 attributable to each notch, not that such a notch would be capable of being 

 characterised by an exact interpretation, but merely that such a mark would 

 tend to remind the messenger of the definite object of his mission, and if he 

 was sent on a similar mission again, it is not outside the bounds of possibility 

 that there -would be a tendency to mark the stick in exactly the same waj^: 

 hence the message stick is not an attempt at writing but a crude representation 

 of ideas. Doubtless the brand of individuality would also be noticeable in the 

 shape of some " flash" marks irrespective of meaning. 



The idea that " message stieks" are really iirimarily " memory sticks" 

 and guarantees of good faith is, I think, show-n by the fact that when carried 

 they are never wrapped up, as it is evidently the intention that same should 

 be available at a moment's notice. In Queensland they are carried by men 

 only, and whilst hunting the.y are usually twisted into the hair and concealed 

 therein; \inless the messenger happens to have a belt, in which case the stick 

 might be placed there for a time. 



" Message sticks" seem to have lieeu in use almost universally throughout 

 Australia with the exception of the Arunta tribe of Central Australia (7, 24), 

 and though never regarded as sacred it was nevertheless considered to be a 

 matter of honour to see that they safely reached their destination, and the 

 faithfulness with which such a mission was carried out shows clearly how (prior 

 to the advent of civilisation) the native regarded the sanctity of his oliligations. 



There is an instance known to me personally where the messenger died 

 en route at some distance from his destination. After .some short lapse of time 

 the stick was passed on from one to the othei' most religiously, until it finally 

 reached its proper channel. It is presumed that no verbal message could have 

 accompanied the stick, since the message died with him. and yet I have 

 evidence that the receiver was able to decipher the message in .some sort of 

 way, since he immediately became troubled and .soon after " M'ent bush," 

 returning to the tribe and place from whence the message was originally sent. 



Tasmania. — The primitive Tasmanians did not possess "message stieks"; 

 their only method of intercommunication was by means of smoke signals made in 

 prearranged places and principally used to give warning. 



