228 



Kempeana) as a headpiece, which is fixed with the sinews of 

 marsupial rats to the shaft. Fastened to this is a small barb, a 

 few inches distant from the end, which terminates flatly instead 

 of cylindrically. If the shaft becomes too short, it is lengthened 

 by another piece firmly fastened on with sinews. They are 

 generally called by the name of the wood employed in their 

 manufacture. For defence they have a shield, idkuta, two to three 

 feet long, and one foot wide, made of the wood of Erythrina 

 vesjjertilio, of trough-like shape, and with a handle on the inner 

 face. Various sized domestic utensils for food and water consist 

 of hollowed wooden basins, made of different kinds of timber, 

 which are used also as substitutes for cradles, etc. Wherever a 

 mother goes she takes her baby with her, carrying it in one of 

 the troughs under her arm and resting it on her hip. 



A thick stick, five to seven feet long, serves as support to the 

 old people, and is used by the women to dig out roots, worms, or 

 rats. Frequently this stick is also used for chastising purposes 

 even to the effusion of blood or stunning the culprit. The men 

 have a shorter stick about two feet long, but do not employ it as 

 frequently as the women, because they are obliged to go out 

 hunting, and when quarrels arise they use their spears. From 

 the skins of marsupials bags are made, but rags are beginning 

 to be used instead. If they happen to pick up a piece of iron, 

 they make a handle with rags and sharpen one end upon sand- 

 stone. For filling cracks in their basins, and for fixing the stones 

 in their weapons, resin from a certain species of porcupine-grass 

 is used."^ They bruise this grass until the resin becomes fluid, 

 and then knead it into a single lump. When they wish to plug 

 up a crack, they soften the mass with heat, and then press it into 

 the fissure. It resembles black sealing-wax, but is not quite as 

 brittle. They call it nurhma. Of the hair of various kinds of 

 marsupials they spin cords for ornamental purposes, and amulets, 

 and charms. For the latter purpose they also use the hair of the 

 dead. For spinning they bark a small stick, eight to ten inches 

 long, form a slit, and put a short crossjDiece through, so as to 

 form a kind of cross. At the lower end it is pointed. When 

 used it is placed upon the thigh, and with the hair rolled rapidly 

 towards the knee, twisting the hairs together as it revolves. 

 When the yarn has attained a lengtli of two to three feet, it is 

 wound up around the crosspiece. When quite full, the yarn is 

 removed, being wound into two balls. It is converted into thread 

 in the same manner, only that the motion is reversed. 



The natives have also some knowledge of the use of drug??. 

 They employ teas made of the leaves and bark of some shrubs 



* Probably Triodia Mitchelli, or T. pungeiis, both of which have viscid 

 leaf -sheaths [Ed.] 



