ABORIGINES. 119 



an inclination of about 45'', and striking one 

 corner with a piece of wood, it will advance 

 several feet and return to the spot from whence 

 it proceeded. I find, however, that this form is 

 not essential to produce a similar eftect, although 

 tlie most convenient to throw from the hand.. 

 Any thin, flat body of a semicircular or recti- 

 linear figure, will return in the same manner, if 

 a rotative motion be communicated to it, in con- 

 junction with the projectile force at a consider- 

 able angle of elevation." 



Among this tribe was an old woman in mourn- 

 ing, which was indicated by her face and breast 

 being painted in white stripes with jDipe-clay. 

 The people composing the tribe were well- 

 formed, muscular, extremities well-proportioned, 

 but of slender form : the average height five feet 

 five or six inches ; cheekbones prominent ; 

 nose broad and flattened, with expansive nos- 

 trils ; mouth large ; beard copious, and hair 

 long, black, and coarse ; they seem as intelli- 

 gent, but not so fine a race as the Polynesians, 

 excepting those of the Papuan or Oceanic race, to 

 which they are evidently closely allied. Some phy- 

 sical diff'erences, however, ought to be expected 

 in a people inhabiting so sterile a country, com- 

 pared with those races inhabiting islands, perhaps 



