FROM CALIFORNIA. 25 



ciubheads," arc the perforated disks which were mounted on handles. 

 However, on p. 13G he figures several of the "ciubheads," giving them 

 here a different name and a different function. In connection with the 

 figures, he says: 



A piece of armor lor war, probably worn also at festivals as a. mark of authority, 

 and which Maino calls "baratn," will give some idea of the capacity of these sav- 

 ages for earring and in working in very hard stone. A sketek of this will he of more 

 value than any description. These baratus are colored in the same way as the arrows 

 and Hie oars. 



The four figures represent long, round staff's, the tops of which are 

 broad and Hat, curiously carved into open scroll work and profusely 

 decorated with beads and feathers. At the junction of the decorated 

 tops with the shafts are the perforated stones, which are elsewhere 

 called "clubheads." 



He figures another of these stone collared staff's on p. 194, Vol. I, 

 which, though better adapted to the purpose of a weapon, resembles 

 the others in type, especially in the length, slenderness, and smooth- 

 ness of handle. This was collected at Dafaure Island, on the southeast 

 coast of New Guinea. Of it, he says: 



We succeeded in getting some stone and wooden weapons, of different shapes, ter- 

 rible things, which at one blow would crack the hardest skull ever framed. I 

 observed two of different shapes, one with a smooth disk, thick in the center, and 

 ending in an acute angle; capable, therefore, of cutting and bruising at. the same 

 time. 



The author connects this style of implement with those above alluded 

 to by stating 1 that " these deadly weapons have a hole in the center, 

 and a piece of hard wood passed through it, varying in length from two 

 to live feet, serves for a handle. Sometimes this stone center is cut 

 into the shape of a star; this is a rarer shape." Several of the feather 

 ornamented stone collared staff's, similar to those figured by D'Albertis, 

 are in the collection of the National Museum. Two of them are here 

 illustrated, Figs. 11 and 12 (p. 24). 



The staff of the original 2 of Fig. 11 is made of a branch of hard wood, 

 smoothed and polished, but still showing the inequalities of surface 

 produced by the knots. It tapers gradually to a point. It is three feet 

 four inches long and about one inch thick at the thickest part. It is 

 split at the top, probably to receive a wedge, and the split is also 

 utilized to receive a tuft of bright feathers, each one of which is care- 

 fully knotted into a small cord of twisted bark. The disk is seven and 

 a half inches in diameter and is finished all around to a sharp edge, 

 whieh is slightly abraded and nicked, though not enough to indicate 

 that it has received very rough usage. Two bands of braided rattan, 

 five and a half inches in all in length, encircle the staff' near the top, 

 and serve to keep the disk in place as well as to add to its ornamenta- 

 tion. 



1 New Guinea, L. M. D'Albertis, Vol. I, p. 194. 



2 No. 73377, National Museum. 



