MESSAGES AND "MESSAGE STICKS."— HAMLTN-EARRIS. 



25 



This stick, which was donated by a Protector of Aboriginals, Mr. E. P. 

 Smith, N.E. inland of Burketown, is provided with a plume of yellow-crested 

 cockatoo feathers mounted in gum cement. A stick of this kind, almost a rarity, 

 would only be used by the headman of a tribe in communicating with the 

 headman of another, and as soon as received the plumes would be taken off the 

 stick and worn in the hair, pending the arrival of the ceremony to which he had 

 been summoned. 



The lines, half -circles, and crosses (of which there are six altogether) are 

 but lightly carved on a piece of white gum, and the whole is raddled in dark 

 ochre. Such a message stick might on occasions be wrapped up in a piece of bark. 



REVEKSE. 



Text-figure 13. 



A message stick from Turn-off Lagoon, via Burketowu. 

 (No. Q.E. 11/35; IS.") mm. x 20 mm.) 



This pine stick has an unusual design and is highly suggestive of white 

 influence. The three figures on the obverse side almost suggest a flag design 

 with six dots, but this must not be taken too seriou.sly, since the writer is totally 

 unaware of the motive in design. Mr. E. P. Smith informs me that the stick 

 was sent from a brother to his sister telling her that he had found the police. 



Although the arrow here is undoubtedly intended to portray the " arm 

 of the law," it should not be entirely overlooked that there was a time when 

 a similar mark resembling the arrow was iu use and had other significance 

 (probably phallic from what I have been told). 



Text-tigiire 14. 



A four-sided pine message stick from Turn-off Lagoon, via Burketown. 



(No. Q.E. 11/36/2; 92 mm. x 11 mm. x S mm.) 



