HORN EXPEDITION-ANTHROPOLOGY. 
89 
Lastly, one or two examples were obtained of a tine, long, broad-bladed lance, 
thicker than any of the preceding, and having a fair polish, which is made out of 
a single piece of the heavy, dark heart-wood of the Desert Oak {Casuarina Decais- 
nea?ia), Plate V., Fig. 2. This form is rare and, I believe, is of some ceremonial 
importance. I was told, in fact, that it is stuck into the ground, blade uppermost, 
to serve as a central point in certain corrobborees, but I have no certain 
knowledge on the subject. 
Spear-throivers. — ‘^Amera” (Plate V., Figs. 10, 10^’, 10/^, lOr). 
One type only is used in the regions visited, viz.:—a broad leaf-shaped 
instrument which is not only used for throwing the spear, but serves many useful 
purposes as a working tool. 
In form they are of an elongated ovate or often spathulate shape, suddenly 
tapering at the distal end to a blunt point, and at the other more gradually to 
a conveniently sized flattened haft. The length is from 22 to 30 inches, and the 
width from 4 to 6 inches. In section they vary from being nearly flat to a 
considerable degree of tranverse curvature, the more concave examples sometimes 
showing by the stains that they have been used as blood receptacles. The most 
carefully made specimens are smoothed to a uniform surface on both sides, but 
more generally they retain the groovings or facets of the tools with which they have 
been made. Most of them are red-ochred all over; one, only, from Tempo Downs 
had a single ornamental pattern of three concentric circles on the concave surface. 
The wood used appears to be Mulga. To the extreme distal end a recurved point 
is firmly affixed with Triodia resin and tendon in the manner shown in Figs. 
IOg and 10/;, which fits into the pit at the tail end of the spear when used for 
throwing purposes. This is about an inch and a half long, and about half its 
length is free. It is made of some hard yellow wood, the same probably as that 
used for the spear barb. 
To the extremity of the haft and almost completely embedded in a mass of 
Triodia resin, by which it is affixed, is a chisel-edged stone chip of more or less 
opaline quartzite,* having its edge running in the same plane as the width of the 
wooden body, and projecting beyond the resin only to the extent of al)out a 
quarter of an inch or even less. In a chip removed from the resin the working 
part is wedge-shaped in section and has one surface—that corresponding to the 
* For the diagnosis of the mineralogical characters of the various stone articles I have to thank Professor 
Tate, and Mr. Turner, Demonstrator of Chemistrj’ in the Adelaide University. 
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