Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/124

 parallel to it with one hand, obtained the leverage afforded by the length of the wommerah, and hurled the spear with a force of which, without such aid, no human strength was capable. A reed spear could easily be thrown more than two hundred yards.

In 1805 Tipahe, a New Zealand chief, was present at a native battle near Sydney. He despised the dilatoriness of the warriors, but greatly admired the wommerah with which the spear was thrown, and but for the superior destructiveness of firearms would have introduced it in his own country. There was seldom much life lost in battle. The clubs of the losing party were dangerous to pursuers, who were usually content with victory. The women, though treated as chattels, warmly espoused tribal and other quarrels. Their shrieks of taunt or triumph were ever ready. The incidents most fatal to life were those attendant upon a raid of an armed band, unaccompanied by women, stealing upon an unsuspecting camp and spearing several men before dashing forward to complete their work, which spared only women captured as wives.

To describe the whole life of the Australians would need a large volume, but a few instances of their craft may be told. In climbing trees none could excel them. It was by mechanical aid that they overcame their greatest difficulties. With the stone tomahawk (promptly abandoned for iron when the colonists arrived) the hunter cut horizontal notches on which to plant his toe, while perpendicular incisions gave a hold to his fingers as he ascended tall trees. The dangerous crisis was in passing the place where the trunk terminated and large limbs branched out. The descent was more difficult than the ascent, for the notches were unseen as they were felt for. On the coast, and in thick forests where vines abounded, another plan was sometimes resorted to. A strong piece of vine, pliant like rope, was cut, and passed round the tree. Holding the ends, and leaning back with foot firmly planted against the trunk, alternately stepping upwards, and jerking the vine higher and higher, the native quickly walked to the point of danger, the expanding limbs, where the utmost care was required. Passing that difficulty, and leaving the vine for nse in the descent, he drew his tomahawk from his belt (of