Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/82

Rh at the point—some having rows of teeth; these are called jagged spears, because they cannot be easily extracted from either man or beast. The natives call them Karnwell. There is also a smaller kind, the Daar spear, used in hunting; it is made of two pieces of wood, fastened together with the sinews of the kangaroo. They are very sharp at the point, and have a white flint stone on each side, fastened in, and on, with gum. These they throw an amazing distance and with great force, seldom missing their aim at a kangaroo when bounding past at full speed, and at fifty paces distance. There is also another kind of spear but it is chiefly used in warfare; it is a very dry piece of wood inserted into a piece of strong reed; it, altogether, being nearly seven feet long, and bound together by the sinews of the kangaroo. They have another instrument called the marriwan, having at the smaller end a sort of hook. The boomerang, or wangaam, as they are called, is made from a solid piece of wood formed in the shape of a half-moon; this they hurl at their antagonists with great force, holding it at one end before letting it go spinning against the enemy, They have a kind of shield also made of wood, a broad solid piece of about three feet long, tapering at each end, with a handle cut in the side, so as to admit the hand. These shields, which they call malka, are used very dexterously in warding off spears and blows from the waddie, or koor, a piece of wood very much resembling a cricket bat. And then there is the jeangwell, anther piece of wood cut into a half-square at one end, with