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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 52

Punishment

Punishment.

It frequently happens that a blackfellow for transgressing some of the laws of the tribe is sentenced by the old men, who pronounce page 38 judgment upon him to undergo the "ordeal of spears." The culprit, who is in a perfectly nude state, is allowed a "heliman" or shield, which he holds in his left hand, and either a boomerang or a piece of wood in his right.

If grass-tree spears are used, he stands perhaps 50 yards away, but much closer for other kind of spears. He may perhaps be sentenced to receive twenty to fifty or more spears, according to the magnitude of his crime. The spears should, I believe, be thrown one at a time. There may possibly be a dozen men throwing, but as these spears follow so quickly after each other, little respite is given to the unfortunate man. The manner in which he dodges these spears is something marvellous. Many he receives on his shield, whilst, by jumping and contorting his body, others pass by him harmlessly. Occasionally they are severely wounded. On one occasion I saw where the spear had entered a man's breast and had come out under his right arm These punishments occupy but a short time; but, short as it is, it is quite long enough to nearly exhaust the culprit, who appears at the end in a state of profuse perspiration. A blackfellow who has safely undergone one of these ordeals is greatly raised in the estimation of his companions. From his crime, though it be murder, he is considered absolved.

A "nullah nullah" is a sort of club, and is made or cut from the root of a tree; they vary very much in shape. The handle is the upright stem. A "waddy" is cut from a standing tree, and is a most formidable weapon. A blow by one is very severe. They are often thrown at animals when hunting. The "heliman," or shield, is an oval-shaped piece of wood about 3 feet long and perhaps 18 inches broad; but they vary greatly in size. They are cut from the standing tree, and are when trimmed down about three-quarters of an inch thick. They retain the natural curve of the tree. Two holes are bored in them for the purpose of inserting a handle. Should the shield split when struck by a spear of course the man would be wounded, therefore a heliman which has stood the test of spears is a very valuable acquisition. A shield with five spears in it was presented to me after one of these affairs, with a request that I would take great care of it, as it might be wanted again. After keeping it for some time, and as it was not called for, I presented it to the Sydney Museum; having foolishly cut the points of the spears off, these looked like so many plugs. I am sorry to say that no trace of this shield can now be found.