Page:Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales.djvu/23

Rh Fig. 14 is a whetstone used for sharpening the points of the shell fish-hooks, and is of hard eruptive rock. it is 4½ inches in length, 1¾ inches in breadth at one end, and tapers at the other end to a point, which has unfortunately been broken off the specimen in my possession. It has a uniform thickness of ⅝ of an inch.

Fig. 15 represents a shield of mangrove wood. It is 30 inches in length, with a breadth of 9 inches, and is used for warding-off spears. The handle, which is a green twig of the mangrove, is fastened by boring two holes 3 inches apart in the centre of the shield, and inserting into each hole an end of the twig, the fibres of which are then separated on the face of the shield. This instrument is covered with pipe-clay and adorned with three red stripes.

Figs. 16 and 17 are waddies, used not only as clubs, but for throwing at small animals. The former, called boon'-dhee, is 26 inches in length, and made of the wood of the ironbark. The latter, called goothera, is made of the wood of the myrtle, and is 35 inches in length.

Fig. 18 is a koolamon, made of mangrove wood. It is 7 inches in diameter, with the same depth internally, and is used for carrying water or holding liquid of any kind.

Fig. 19 is the koo-pin, and is made of the wood of the black oak. It is used for warding-off spears, and also to hinder the flight of an opponent.

Fig. 20 is a fighting boomerang, made of myall wood, and, I believe, is from the north-western part of New South Wales.

Fig. 1.—A boomerang, tā-ree, of the type that does not return when thrown.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.—Boomerangs, bār-rā-kun, of the kind which can be made return when thrown.

Fig. 7.—Yamstick, kun'-nī, used by the women in digging for roots, and is also their favourite weapon.

Fig. 8.—Shield, ben'dool-gun, used in defence against the blows of a club.

Fig. 9.—A waddy, called bin'-nā-pin by the Kutthung

Figs. 10, 11, and 12.—Stone axe heads.

Figs. 13 and 14.—Stone axes, with heads of a dark eruptive rock and handles made of a piece of vine, which is doubled around the head and the two portions are then fastened together with bark, and the head made more secure with wax or gum.

Fig. 15.—Koó-ye-roó, a sharpened kangaroo bone used for combing the hair.

Fig. 16.—A waddy of one of the Hunter River (New South Wales) tribes.

Fig. 17.—The goon-an-dhak'ee-a, a bull-roarer used at the initiation ceremonies.

The other articles manufactured by the aborigines are the canoe, fishing-net, dilly bag, stone knife, belt of spun opossum hair, barbed spear of hardwood, fish-hook of shell, and a small bag used for carrying the pieces of crystal bestowed on the young men when they have been initiated at the Keepara.