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making of such strands by the natives at Opparinna.* The loose 
fur (which in this case was that of opossum) is spread out on a 
clear patch of sand and beaten for some time with small sticks, 
which have been prepared by breaking green twigs from a bush 
and holding them in hot ashes for a short time, thus enabling the 
bark to be readily removed with the flint of the mero (spear- 
thrower) This process of beating makes the fur soft and incohe- 
rent. Two small sticks previously used for beating are then con- 
verted into a cross-shaped spool by biting a hole through the centre 
of the shorter stick and pushing the end of the other through it 
to a distance equal to about one third its whole length. A small 
quantity of fur is next taken up with the left hand, a little of 
it drawn out with the thumb and finger, and with the flat of the 
right hand rolled along the thigh of the native, who is in a 
sitiing position. At the same time the fingers of the left hand 
draw out more and more fur, the right hand continually rolling 
as it comes, until a fair length of coherent string has thus been 
produced. The native frequently spits on to his right hand 
and thigh to make the fur catch better. Тһе small length 
of formed string, which is stil in communication with the 
incoherent fur, is next wound crosswise across the intersection of 
the arms of the spool; then, holding the fur end of the string 
in the left hand, which keeps up the regular supply with thumb 
and finger, the right hand skilfully twirls the spool. This 
process serves to twist the string more efficiently than the pre- 
liminary rolling of the fur with the hand. The string by this 
means rapidly forms and lengthens, and is from time 10 time 
wound on to the spool for convenience of handling until the 
required length is made. To remove the strand the small 
arm of the spool is simply pushed upwards and off of the 
longer. The coil is placed round the wrist and is ready for further 
treatment or working up if required. 
To make a necklace (“olindu”) two strands of a length of 
string are twisted together, and this doubly-twisted strand 
folded several times upon itself, and each end being tied with 
a short string of twisted hair (usually human). These two short 
ligatures further serve to tie the necklace at the back of the 
neck. The separate strings of the “olindu ” are further thickly 
coated with red ochre. 
After the above description, the method of construction of the 
ceremonial object previously referred to as “ wanningi” may be 
easily understood. Having secured a good length of string, a 
small cross-like frame is constructed, similar to the spool 
* Compare the method described by Spencer and Gillen in “Тһе Native 
Tribes of Central Australia," page 613; E. C. Stirling: Anthrop. Horn 
Exped., page 100 ; and W. E. Roth : ** String and other Forms of Strand, 
etc.," North Queensland Ethnography, Bull I., by authority, 1901. 
