Abstract
I HAVE just received here my copy of the February number of vol. xix. of the Journal of the Anthropological Institute, in which I have read, with the greatest interest and appreciation, the long and valuable account of the western tribe of Torres Strait, by Prof. Haddon. With regard to the throwing-sticks, of which, on p. 332, he says, “the heavy spears of South-east New Guinea are hurled by a throwing-stick which differs from any Australian implement,” I think some error must have been made by his informant. I never saw a throwing-stick in existence, or in use, during my three years' residence in the country, either in the interior, along the south-eastern peninsula, in the Louisiade Archipelago, or on the northern coast as far as Mitre Rock. If these implements do exist on the southern side, they must be very rare. The first spear-thrower from New Guinea brought to England, as far as I am aware, was, nevertheless, the one brought home by me in 1888, which is now in the British Museum. It came, however, from the German possessions on the north-east coast, either from Finch-haven, or from the Augusta River, if I recollect correctly, and was given to me in Cooktown.
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FORBES, H. Throwing-Sticks and Canoes in New Guinea. Nature 43, 248 (1891). https://doi.org/10.1038/043248a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/043248a0
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