SELBORXK SOCIETY NOTICES 
79 
Recent History,” showing how nearly all native races, when discovered, were in 
a state of civilization corresponding to some period in Stone Stage History. 
The Tasmanians were in the Palceolithic Stage. Their implements were of 
roughly chipped stone, not ground as were those of the Australians, who belonged 
to a later stage of the Stone age. The Australians used hafted implements, the 
stone portion being fixed to the wooden or hone portion of the implement by 
means of lumps of gum. When telegraphy was introduced into Australia, the 
natives used the insulators as material for the manufacture of their implements, 
the earthenware chipping more readily than flint. This race also used glass for 
the same purpose. 
Mr. Joyce explained the use of the boomerang, which was not intended as a 
weapon of defence or offence, hut as a hunting implement. The natives hid 
behind bushes, and, owing to the curved flight of the boomerang, were not obliged 
to show themselves to their intended victims. 
The Maories were of a still later stage. The stone axes of the Maories are of 
exceptionally fine workmanship, many being made of jade, which is a very hard 
material. Jade weapons were only used by the chiefs, one of these weapons 
taking a generation to make. 
The Australian natives practised scar- tattooing as a form of ornamentation ; 
the Maories employed a much finer kind, the process being extremely painful and 
lengthy. They preserved the heads of both their friends and their enemies. 
The Polynesians proper had no flax, and no animals larger than the rat until 
Captain Cook introduced the pig. In consequence they had no weaving, and 
could not make use of skins in the manufacture of their clothing. Instead, they 
used A'a/'a or Tapa, which was made from the paper-mulberry plant. The strips 
were beaten, when in a moist condition, into a form of vegetable felt, which was 
used as clothing. Vegetable fibre was also used in making the feather cloaks of 
their chiefs. The chiefs were allowed to wear red and yellow, whilst the king 
wore yellow only. 
In the North American Gallery the obsidian masks of Mexico were the chief 
centre of interest. A crystal skull is also worthy of especial mention, being 
carved out of hard crystal without the aid of steel implements. 
The Peruvians made excellent pottery, although in other branches of art, such 
as drawing, they were less enlightened. 
Mr. Joyce also traced out in a very interesting manner the history of the Axe 
and the Bow. In Tasmania and Australia the axe was used as a weapon, and in 
the other grades of Stone age civilization it became a god. In New Zealand it 
was also a symbol of rank, whilst in Melanesia it had attained the dignity of 
a currency. A jade axe would buy a fat man. 
Mr. McNeil Kushforth proposed, and Mr. Poole seconded, a vote of thanks to 
the guide, which was heartily accorded to him. 
FORTHCOMING EVENTS. 
CouNcii, AND Committee Meetings. 
AUiiday, April 13. — General Purposes Committee at 5.30 p.m. 
Tuesday, May 26. — Council Meeting at 5.30 p.m. 
The Annum. Soiree. 
The Annual Soiree will be held on Friday, May l, 1908, in the Theatre and 
Halls of the Civil Service . Commission (Old London University), Burlington 
Gardens, New Bond Street, VV., from 7.30 to ll p.m. 
The Right Hon. Lord Avebury, President of the .Selhorne Society, will 
preside. 
The programme will include a lecture by the Honorary Secretary of the 
Society, Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, F.L.S., on “ The History oj Punch and Judy," 
illustrated by lantern slides and the present-day puppet show. 
There will also be exhibited in the Theatre during the evening some striking 
cinematographic pictures of living birds, by the courtesy of Messrs. L. Kammand Co. 
The South-West Hall will, as usual, be devoted to microscopes, while the other 
available space will be occupied by exhibits of all kinds, and it is hoped to arrange 
a series of interesting experiments. Music will be provided by Mr. Franz Zeidler’s 
Bijou Orchestra. 
