Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/69

64 plants have ceased shaking, the wily savage pushes his canoe gently up to within striking distance of the plants which were last in motion, he knowing right well that at the foot thereof his game is resting. Poising his grained weapon for but a short space, he launches it with precision, and seldom fails to bring his scaley victim, quivering and glittering to the surface.

When sailing over deep water, both ends of the stick are used; it is held by the middle then, and each end is dipped into the water alternately. They have a wonderful knack in their management of canoes, driving them along with amazing velocity, and a directness of bearing that would delight the very heart of a pilot, whose pride it is to con a ship successfully.

Their canoes are made from the bark of the red gum tree; bark of other trees is also used, but merely for temporary use, as none but the former will stand the weather without curling up or splitting. They are made in all cases from a single sheet, without tie or join. In making these vessels, trees with natural bends are chosen, as curves so obtained precludes the necessity of having to use fire to give the required rise, stem and stern.

When the bark for a canoe is cut, stretchers are placed across it at intervals of three feet to prevent it from curling up. Short props are also placed under the bows and stern to keep them from becoming depressed by reason of their own weight. If at this stage the canoe should not have the exact shape desired by the maker, he places heavy billets of wood inside at those parts which require pressing outwards, and the bark being green, the pressure effects the end aimed