ORIGIN OF THE HELIMAN OR SHIELD. 287 



three-quarters of an inch in thickness and tapering to three- 

 eighths of an inch at the edges. Although very old, the 

 timber is in good preservation and very strong. 



It was used as a means of self defence from attack by 

 spears and boomerangs. These shields were known by 

 various names, in the interior mostly "elamong," on the 

 coast "heliman," and in Queensland "valaman." 



Two holes were cut in the centre of the shield, and a 

 vine twisted and worked in as a handle, — the vine was 

 called " Whipi," Malaisia tortuosa, Blanco, which was also 

 used for the purpose of climbing trees. Some shields, 

 especially those made in Queensland, had the handle worked 

 out of the wood used in making the shield. 



Plate XLVIII. — A group of Grey Mangroves at the 

 present time. No description is necessary with this picture, 

 the shield mark being so defined on the tree on the left as 

 to leave no room for argument. It will be seen that a 

 similar mark is carried out on the tree on the right, and 

 that the shield has been cut much earlier, the piece being 

 decayed completely out. In the rear are a number of 

 trees with shield marks going back to a long period. Both 

 of the trees in the foreground have had two shields removed, 

 but are not visible. The picture was taken in a group of 

 many hundreds of trees so marked. Both of the two trees 

 shown illustrate the method of how the tree survives this 

 wounding, and how successive generations may secure 

 their shields from the same tree. It will be noticed 

 that each tree has a decided lean to the left, and immedi- 

 ately above the shield mark will be seen a new growth. 

 Round the wound is also a new growth which is nourishing 

 the new shoots the tree has sent out. This new growth 

 round the wound heals very evenly, as shown on the left, 

 and continues until eventually the head of the tree decays 

 and falls off. In time the new tree is again attacked by 



