Aboriginal Wooden Weapoiis of Aiisfi-alia . 41 



the weapon poiutiug towards the butt. A common variety of the 

 uubarbed hand spear exhibits a broadened spatulate-shaped point. 



Barbed Hand Spears. — Another well distributed form of 

 the hand spear possesses barbs. The "Nandum," from 8 to 11 ft. 

 long, is the simplest variety'. It is shaped from a single piece of 

 hard wood, into which the barbs are cut. These consist of a single 

 row of deep serrations, situated on one side of the weapon, and 

 requiring both skill and patience in cutting. A variety of the 

 barbed hand spears has a double row of serrations arranged oppo- 

 sitely. Several short specimens of the barbed hand spear are in 

 this Museum. The}- w-ere probabh- not intended for throwing, but 

 were gripped in the hand for thrusting at close quarters. 



WUMMERA SPEARS, CONCAVE BUTT. 



The distinguishing feature of these spears lies in the small 

 concave depression found at the proximal end of the weapon into 

 which. the peg of the wummera is inserted. These weapons may 

 be constru(5led of one, two, or three pieces of wood. 



Spears Constructed of One Piece. — Quartz-tipped spears 

 are made of a single slender shaft, bearing the charadleristic hol- 

 low at the butt end, and grooved at the other extremity for the in- 

 sertion of a row of flakes of quartz, or black or w^hite basalt. The 

 chips and gum into which the former are imbedded are frequent 

 objects of barter. The quartz spear is capable of iufli(5ling terrible 

 lacerated w^ounds. Two opposite rows of flakes are probably more 

 frequent than only one. 



Spears Constructed of Two Pieces of Wood.— The 



Tirrer or reed spear generally consists of two pieces. The .shaft is 

 made of a slender reed, Typha augtistifolia , into which is fitted a 

 tip of poisonous mulga wood. Towards the point, bound with 

 kangaroo or other tendon, is placed a barb of wood or bone. The 

 extreme length of the tirrer, which may be as much as 12 ft., re- 

 quires the use of both hands in trajecting it, one being employed with 

 the wummera, and the other stretched forward to direct the spear. 



Spears Constructed of Three Pieces of Wood.— The 



"Koanie" form of spear is formed of three separate pieces repre- 

 senting respecflively the butt, shaft and tip. Of these, the shaft is 

 firmly fixed to the butt, but more loosely to the tip which is spatu- 



[iSi] 



