96 
HORN EXPEDITION—ANTHROPOLOGY. 
Yam-Sticks. 
Though the “yam” is not found south of the McDonnells, I retain this well- 
recognised name for the plain straight sticks of varying lengths used for digging 
purposes. 
Those I saw were simple straight stems of some wood, externally light coloured 
(probably Mulga), with the branches roughly trimmed off. At one end they are 
brought to a chisel edge, such, in fact, as would be produced by a straight cut made 
obliquely through the stick. This working end is hardened by fire. 
These yam-sticks are used with great dexterity, and it is astonishing with 
what rapidity underground animals are dug out of their holes by their means, the 
shallow hard wood “ Pitchis ” being used as scoops for the loosened earth. 
StOTie Kiiives — Appurta'"'’ (Plate VI., Figs. 1, l^^). 
Besides the chisel-ended spear-thrower, the adze and one heavy water-worn 
diorite peblde, split so as to present a sharp and somewhat pointed edge, which I 
saw being used in the hand to cut steps in a gum-tree, the only other stone imple¬ 
ments seen in the possession of the natives were stone knives. They were, 
however, very infrequently met with, many of the natives having acquired 
possession of sheath knives of European manufacture. 
These native knives are of a well-known pattern, consisting of lanceolate 
blades of (in the great majority of cases) the quartzite of the desert sandstone, 
from about three to six inches in length, and from one and a quarter inches to two 
and a half inches in width. Usually, as in the specimen figured, Plate VI., Fig. la, 
the blades are wholly or mainly trigonal in section, with one very obtuse and two 
acute angles, the fracture-surfaces being subconchoidal or nearly plane. Occasion¬ 
ally, however, while one side consists of a single surface, that opposite to it shows 
three elongated facets, making the section tetragonal—such, in fact, as would be 
produced if the small triangular facet shown at the base of the blade in the figure 
w’ere extended to the point. 
The haft is either a more or less oval, flattened mass of superficially red- 
ochred Triodia resin, into which the base of the blade is set, the other extremity 
being well rounded, or, as in the specimen figured, additional length is given to 
the haft by the insertion into it of a flat quadrangular piece of wood, which is 
generally variously decorated with coloured pigments, especially in the examples 
