164 Notice of the Kilee or Boomerang. 



To the ambitious youths of our country, who are striving for 

 wealth as if it were the summum bonum, we drop the cautionary 

 remark, that if they have no better views, disappointment will 

 surely crown their efforts ; for, without higher and nobler aims, 

 it is not in wealth to afford happiness ; while efforts, prompted 

 and directed by a liberal and enlightened benevolence, produce 

 an immediate and sure return — payment, day by day — with a 

 rich reversion to come. 



The wealth of this country is sufficient for all purposes of be- 

 nevolence, literature, science, and arts, and we trust that it will 

 be directed more and more to such objects. 



The example of Stephen Van Rensselaer stands as a bright 

 signal light, to direct and cheer the wise and good in their career 

 through this short and transient life — long enough, however, for 

 great results of both evil and good, which end not with our brief 

 personal action here, but like mechanical impulses, are propagated 

 in successive and boundless vibrations. 



Art. XXIIT. — Some notice of the Kilee or Boomei^ang, a weapon 

 used by the natives of Australia ; by Charles Fox. 



The first notice which I remember to have seen of the weapon, 

 was in a slight volume of travels in Van Diemen's Land, pub- 

 lished about four years since in London, but with which I have 

 not been able to meet again. It is there described as made of 

 heavy wood ; and, as being in the hands of a native, a very dan- 

 gerous and powerful instrument of offense. About three years 

 since, some specimens were imported into Dublin, and there soon 

 became such a demand for them, that they have since been man- 

 ufactured there. They are used by the students at Oxford and 

 Cambridge, to throw for recreation. The specimen now in my 

 hands was imported from Australia ; but is evidently intended 

 for England, and is made of light materials which could do little 

 harm should it chance to strike any one. 



It is of some native wood, and has been either cut out of a 

 branch, having the appropriate bend by nature ; or it must have 

 been twisted by means of steam, the vein of the wood following 

 the curve to prevent its splitting. 



