MESSAGES AND "MESSAGE STICKS.' ■—HAMLYNHABRIS. 



31 



supposed to convey. Bishop White said he was no little surprised to find that 

 the boy interpreted the request for head-bands and boomerangs correctly. 



Since the accuracy of this iu.stance is vouched for by the integrity of 

 such a well-known cleric, we may also presume that the stick probably contained 

 some mention of an exchange and the name of the boy by whom it had been sent. 



The .stick is made of pine and has 22 and 2.3 notches respectively on each 

 side ; for the rest, crosses and a few bars complete the writing. 



HEVEHSr. 



Text-figure 25. 



A small pine message stick from the Northern Territory. 

 (No. Q.E. 11/16/1; 70 mm. x 13 mm.) 



Evidently a hastily prepared and crudely fashioned stick from the Roper 

 River, collected by Mr. M. J. Colclough in 1909. It was sent in connection with 

 the death of a child, notifying the father of its death. 



There is a custom in this part of the country of passing children 

 temporarily on from one tribe to another, in good seasons, with a view to 

 educating them and teaching them local dialects. Such a child had died, and 

 hence the message. 



ji 



Text-figure 26. 



Message stick from the MacArthur River, Northern Territory. 



(No. Q.E. 11/16/2; 167 mm. x varying from 14 to 21 mm.; ochred.) 



This contains an invitation to the Boroloola to a ceremony, " Jundee," 

 and records the number of boys to be initiated. This stick is made of Leichhardt 



