Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/71

66 a hole four inches long is pierced for the hand; the flat side opposite the handle is five inches wide, from whence it narrows down to a point at each end. The instrument is perfectly solid, therefore very heavy, as well as being strong. The handle is padded with opossum skin to save the knuckles during action. They are exceedingly dexterous in the use of this instrument; so much so indeed that nearly any aborigine will make a target of himself for any other aborigine to spear at, if only he be provided with one of these shields. This instrument is made of the stunted box tree (Eucalyptus Dumosa), the inlocked grain of which is almost unsplitable, therefore the very thing to receive hard knocks with the least possible injury.

The ornamental shield is the same length as the one described above; this, however, being the only similarity, as this one is ten inches wide at the centre, tapering from thence to a point at each end. It is made of a thin shell of wood never exceeding a quarter of an inch in thickness. Two holes are pierced in the centre, four inches apart, through which a tough piece of wand is bent for a handle; it is slightly convex on the outer side, and most elaborately carved. These carvings though are not after any design, but are simply rude irregular lines, running sometimes across, and at other times up and down the instrument. Usually these irregular lines are painted alternately red and white, which has rather a novel effect, when rapidly and artistically flourished; in which performance, the aboriginal warrior whilst playing at fighting, takes abundant pride.