WEAPONS. 33 



thrown. How this effect is produced is to me a mys- 

 tery. After having been projected horizontally fifty or 

 even one hundred yards, it suddenly rises high into the 

 air, and, revolving on its axis, with great speed returns 

 to the point whence it was started. However, as a 

 general rule, it hits the duck or other game, and so 

 falls directly to the ground. 



We found at one of the mission stations which we 

 visited, where old customs had been discarded and the 

 tribe had become thoroughly civilized, no one knew how 

 to throw the boomerang. Though one handsome fellow, 

 as black as a coal, made several attempts, for our 







sakes, he could not succeed. We were, for the time- 

 being, considerably disappointed. We learned from it, 

 however, that there is a skill that must be acquired 

 even for throwing a boomerang. 



Let would-be wits make note, lest their own un- 

 skilled jokes, failing to injure those aimed at, may 

 rebound with greater force upon themselves. 



The other kind of boomerang is longer and heavier. 

 It is used more than the lighter sort in war and in 

 the chase. 



The wounds it inflicts are very severe. 



Pointed sticks, very heavy at the pointed end, are 

 used also in hunting. These are usually about two 

 feet long. The natives are very expert at throwing 



