Boomerang.

The boomerang, in the throwing of which these blacks excel, is a weapon which from its peculiar motion when thrown, has excited and astonished every one who has witnessed the operation.

It consists of a flat curved piece of wood, and varies in size from 18 inches to 3 feet or more. It is cut from the natural bend of a tree, either from the root or branch. A curved block is first cut from the tree, and then split and scraped down to the required thickness, the edges being made sharp, and the ends or cusps rounded. In the hands of a black they are thrown with great ease. He holds it by one end, the other pointing outwards, then running a few paces forward to gain impetus, he throws the boomerang as though he aimed at an object a few degrees above his line of sight.

The boomerang at once assumes a rapid rotary motion and ascends to a great height, occasionally suddenly taking opposite directions, or forming a large circle in the air, at times appearing stationary. After a time it returns rapidly towards the thrower, who is now in a very dangerous position, and has to keep a sharp look-out so that he is not struck by it, when assuredly, if not killed, some of his limbs would be broken. The boomerang gradually descends to the ground some 30 or 40 yards behind the thrower, skimming along the surface for some distance. Sometimes the boomerang is made to ascend after having struck the ground 20 or more feet ahead. All boomerangs do not possess the quality of rising in the air—it is only the lighter ones of a particular make and curve which do so. The others are larger and heavier, and are used by being thrown so as to strike the ground, when they roll along something like a wheel, with great rapidity, and will knock over a kangaroo or emu. I once saw one of these penetrate completely through a kangaroo. Should a boomerang come in contact with an object, if not at once arrested in its progress, it often flies off at a tangent with undiminished force, and apparently with no loss of speed.

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This remarkable implement has attracted the attention of many mathematicians. The late Sir T. Mitchell adapted it as a propeller for steam vessels, but unfortunately did not live to perfect his invention.

I have watched every movement most carefully of a blackfellow whilst throwing one of these weapons, and have received every explanation which a most intelligent man could afford, but was never able to master the art of throwing it.

I noticed that, before throwing, the thrower would give the boomerang a slight bend. It is evident that if the two points or cusps are not in the same plane, that the boomerang partakes of the nature of part of a screw, and acts as such in ascending through the air; gradually these points return to the same plane, and possibly pass it, when it becomes what may be termed a descending screw. Every change in the position of these cusps must affect its movements in the air, but this will not account for its rapid motion, or even the movements, for I have seen a boomerang thrown at random, on the spur of the moment, and act in a similar manner.

The boomerang throws better from one end than from the other. Every blackfellow knows the quality of his boomerang, and will practise with a new one for a length of time so as to become familiar with its peculiarities.

These weapons, as well as spears, are thrown with the greatest ease and grace by a black, and I may here add that all their movements are graceful and easy.