56 nature's teachings. 



they have the power of swelling their bodies into a globular 

 form, the spikes project on all sides just like those of the 

 pollen or chestnut. There is a specimen in my collection, 

 which, if the tail and fins were removed, and a cast taken in 

 metal, would make a very good Morgenstern ball. 



The Sword. 



The next improvement on the club was evidently to flatten, 

 it, and sharpen one or both edges, so as to make it a cutting as 

 well as a stunning implement — in fact, the club was changed 

 into a Sword. 



A good example of this weapon in its simplest form is the 

 wooden sword of Australia, now an exceedingly rare weapon. 



SWORD-GRASS MAGNIFIED. SHAEK-TOOTH SWORD OF MANGAIA. 



It looks like a very large boomerang, but is nearly straight, and 

 is made from the hard, tough wood of the gum-tree. Travellers 

 say that the natives can cut off a man's head with this very 

 simple weapon. 



I just missed obtaining one of these swords from a man-of- 

 war, but, unfortunately, a few hours before my arrival the 

 zealous first lieutenant had ordered a large collection of savage 

 weapons to be thrown overboard, among which were several 

 Australian swords. 



Finding that the edges were not sufficiently sharp, and were 

 liable to break, the maker next turned his attention to arming 

 them with some substance harder than wood. Various materials 

 were used for this purpose, some of which will be mentioned. 



