The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-11-10
Wenderfui Dsxferffy

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A traveller tells Us something Of
the singular weapon used by the ns-
tives Of Australia, the boomerang
He saw them used by the natives.
They ranged from two feet to thirty
eight inches in length, and were Of
various shapes. all curved little,
and looking, as be described them,
ike q wooden new moon. They
were made of dark, heavy wood,
and weighed from one to three
pounds. In thickness they vary from
half an inch, and taper to point at
each end
One of the natives picked up the
piece of wood, and, posing il an in
slant, threw it, giving it q rotary
motion. For the first one hundred
feet or more il went straight ahead.
Then il tackled 10 the left and rose
slightly, still 10 ating rapidly. 1t
kept this latter c. q Sc for a hundred
feet more, perhaps, but soon veered
to the left again, describing q broad
er curve, and a moment latter fell to
the earth six or eight feet in front Of
the thrower, having described nearly
circle in the air
Another native then took the same
boomerang and cast it, holding it
with the same grip. 1t took the
same course, but made broader
curves, and as it came round the
black caught it handsomely ia his
right hand.
Another native next threw it, and
lodged it on the ground about tweu-
W feet behind him, alter it had de-
scribed circle of two hundred yards
or upward. After him they all tried
II, aud but one Of them failed to
bring the weapon back to the spot
where they stood.
Carnboo, native, then selected
from the heap of boomerangs, anoth-
er one, and cast il wit a Jerk. Il
dew very quickly for 40 or so yards,
whirling like top Then it darted
into the air, mounting fully one hun
dred feet, and came over our heads,
where it seemed to hang stationary
for moment, then settled slowly,
still whirllng, till be caught it.
Two others of the blacks did the
same thing.
Meanwhile | had with my knife
shaved little Of the wood from the
convex side of one Of the boomer
angs. This is now offered to one of
them to throw. He took it without
noticing what | had done, poised it,
but stopped short, and with q con-
temptuous glance at my improve
ment threw it iown and exclaimed;
Bale budgery ~ (no good.)
The others then looked at it eau
tiously. but 1t was a bale budgery
also to them No one could be iu-
duced to throw it.
Myers asked them why they did
not use it. bu: they could not give
him definite answer. 1t was plain
that they did not like the way it
poised when held in the hand, yse
| could not distinguish any differ.
ence between this and the Other YEA
pons.
Burleigh then walked 20 distance
of 200 feet or more from the blacks
and bid Carnbo0 throw to him
The native looked at him for q mo-
ment rather curiously, then compre-
bending what Was wanted, be select
ed one Of the heaviest missiles, and,
turning hall round, threw it with
great force in direction almost op-
posite from that where Burleigh
stood.
The weapon sped smartly 70 so or
10 feet, then tackled in an instant
ano few directly at Burleigh, and,
had he not SO expeditiously dacked,
be would have received hard thump,
if nothing worse It struck the
ground 90 or 90 PAGES beyoa6
This feat brought out q broad grin
and something like chuckle from
the whole of them Carnboo even
intimsted that he would like to try
another east, but BurIeigh expressed
himself fully satisfied
Mr.. Smith, however, offered, 20
take sto5," but not at too short q
range. We were standing in front
OF one of the storehouses. Carnboo
placed Smith in front of the door
and stood with his back to him,
with Smiths hand on bis shoulder.
None of US knew what sort Of q
vancouver be had in mind, not even
Myers. Standing in his position, the
black threw the boomerang straight
ahead Immediately in curved in
the air. Then it disappeared around
the corner of the building, and, be-
fore he had time to guess what it
ment, It came round the other end
(having passed completely round the
storehouse) and gave him q sound
ing slap on the back, which made
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