MURDOCH. ] BIRD BOLAS. 245 
hand, the balls in the left, and the strings are straightened out with a 
quick pull. Letting go with the left hand the balls are whirled round 
the head and let fly at the passing flock. The : 
balls spread apart in flying through the air, 
WW) so as to cover considerable space, 
H like a charge of shot, and if they 
are stopped by striking a duck, the 
strings immediately wrap around 
him and hamper his flight so that 
he comes to the ground. The na- 
tives said that the balls flew with 
sufficient force to stun a duck or 
break his wing, but we never hap- 
pened to see any taken except in 
the way just described. A duck 
is occasionally left with sufficient 
freedom of motion to escape with 
the bolas hanging to him. The 
weapon is effective up to 30 or 40 
yards, but the natives often throw 
it to a longer distance, frequently 
missing their aim. It is univer- 
sally employed, especially by those — yy¢, 247.—Bird bolas, looped up 
who have no guns, and a good for carrying. 
many ducks are captured with it. In the spring, when the 
ducks are flying, the women and children hardly ever stir 
out of the house without one or more of these. 
We brought home one specimen of this implement (kelaui- 
tau/tin), No. 75969 [1793], Fig. 248, which is new and has the 
balls rather carelessly made. The balls, which are six in 
number, are of walrus ivory, 1-6 to 1-8 inches long and 1 ineh 
in diameter (except one which is flattened, 2 inches long and 
1:3 wide; they are usually all of the same shape). Through 
the larger end is drilled a small hole, the ends of which are 
joined by a shallow groove running over the end, into which 
the ends of the strings are fastened by three half-hitches 
each. There is one string of sinew braid to each set of two 
balls, doubled in the middle so that all six parts are equal and 
% about 23incheslong. They are fastened to the feather handle 
+ as follows: Nine wing feathers of the eider duck are laid side 
by side, butt to point, and doubled in the middle so that the 
Fic. 248.—Bird “‘. 5 ; p 
bolas, ready “Uills and vanes stand up on all sides. The middle of each 
foruse. string is laid across the bight of the feathers, so that the six 
parts come out on all sides between the feathers. The latter are then 
lashed tightly together with a bit of sinew braid, by passing the end 
over the bend of the feathers and tying with the rest of the string round 
the feathers. 
