MESSAGE STICKS. 35 



of trees, cuts steps up the trees he wants to climb, 

 and many other things too numerous to mention. In 

 short, this instrument he regards as the most valuable 

 by far of which he is possessed. 



MESSAGE STICKS. 



When a native is sent by his tribe to carry a mes- 

 sage to a distant tribe, he always carries a message 

 stick. This is carved and ornamented after a very 

 original fashion. It was at first thought that these 

 carvings were a kind of writing, but later investiga- 

 tion reveals that they are only a confirmation of the 

 messenger's authority and message, which he, as a 

 general rule, delivers first, viva voce, and then presents 

 his stick. 



They are very often in shape like a miniature 

 boomerang, and colored at both ends with red ochre. 

 All their weapons, with the exception of some kinds 

 of spear, are more or less carved and covered with 

 white and red ochre. The natives have, generally 

 speaking, a considerable taste for carving and draw- 

 ing. Sheets of bark, on which very good drawings are 

 made, are frequently put up as ornaments in their 

 dwellings. 



