64 
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
1. The Killawal is used almost always in warfare. It consists of 
a thin shaft of some acacia, generally wattle, about 5 feet long, tipped 
with a finely-finished head of some kind of quartz, as before described. 
This primary shaft is inserted into a piece of bamboo, of about the 
same length, in which it is fastened by means of spinifer gum, sup- 
plemented with a tying of kangaroo sinew. 
The idea is evidently to make the bamboo serve as the feather to 
the arrow. The light after-part in the same way preventing wobbling, 
on a principle that I should be sorry to try to explain in the presence 
of so many eminent mathematicians. I recollect well, however, as a 
boy, constructing cheap and efiective arrows on the same principle, 
from light reeds, in the end of which a common nail was inserted, and 
which went straight to the mark, although not feathered. 
These spears are always projected from the " throwing stick," 
called in Kimberley Gnalealing ; in the north-western district, about 
!N'icholl Bay, Wommerah, and in the south, Meero. 
This method of throwing the war spear and some of the hunting 
spears is common throughout the Australian colonies. 
The Wommerah varies greatly in size and shape, but the method 
of use is always the same. It is a flattish stick, with a hook at one 
end, which is inserted into a hole at the end of the spear. The Wom- 
merah is held between the second and third fingers, and the spear 
between the first finger and thumb. The thrower, before discharging 
his weapon, quivers it in a remarkable manner while taking aim ; 
and as he can generally send it through a man's body at from 30 to 
50 yards, it was generally understood that when a native " shook his 
spear" at you, you were legally justified in anticipating his shot if 
you could. 
The large Mongwal, or fishing spear, is chiefly used in hunting the 
small crocodile, which infests these rivers, generally not more than 
6 or 8 feet long, and called by the natives Nqiia^ia. This spear is 
about 10 feet long, and about 1|- inch thick, made of a hard wood, 
sharpened at both ends, and then hardened by fire. The natives creep 
on the basking crocodile, and thrust the spear into the soft part 
beneath the forearm. 
The Mamiifilea, or fishing spear, has already been described. 
(Plate II., fig. 6.) 
The light hunting spear, also called Mannijilea, is simply a straight 
wattle," hardened by fire, and pointed at one end. It is about 
8 feet long, and is used in slaughtering kangaroo, turkey (the 
Bustard), Emu, and other game. 
