XXXVi. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
came from Swatchfield, and this view is confirmed by the inves- 
tigations of the writer of the paper. A basalt, similar to that of 
Bathurst, has also been found lower down the Macquarie, at 
Rock Forest. 
NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 
Mr. Heptey, who had just returned from New Caledonia, 
exhibited a few articles of ethnological interest which he had 
collected there. The Kanakas use there an implement called by 
the French a “doigtiére,” and by the Owbatche tribe the 
“hooeng,” which is almost, if not quite, peculiar to the island. 
It consists of a cord about six inches long, with a ball at one end 
and a loop at the other. The loop is fitted to the forefinger of 
the warrior, who holds the spear with the remaining fingers, the 
palm upwards, and the ball end is passed round the spear and 
caught under the cord. Whereas the womerah of Australia is 
used to increase the velocity of the spear, the “doigtiére” merely 
imparts a rotatory motion to the projectile, adding little to the 
speed but much to the aim. 
Another instrument of offensive warfare is the sling, in the 
use of which the New Caledonians are most expert. Their 
ammunition consists of ovate stones, an inch and a half long, 
ground to a point at either end. These are carried in a woven 
pouch tied by a belt round the waist, the belt itself being ® 
knitted sack capable of holding additional ammunition when 
necessary. Any European who has crossed mountain and jungle 
armed with revolver, knife, and cartridge belt, would acknow- 
ledge that the kanaka’s mode of carrying his sling stones excelled 
ours of carrying cartridges in rough and broken country. 
The method of handling both sling and “doigti¢re” was 
oo 
‘The inilowing donations were laid upon the table and acknow- 
ledged :— 
TRANSACTIONS, JOURNALS, REPORTS, &c. 
(The Names of the Donors are in Italics ) 
