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9. Wommeras on the Pennefather R[iver] are Known by the general name of arái-i.* Used both as a spear-guard, and as a spear thrower. The blade (Fig.14) varies greatly in width, but with greater with width there has of course to be a correspondingly longer peg: greater width however is not considered an advantage. It is manufactured from five different timbers, Erythrophlaeum Laboucherii, F.V.M. (NGG. nau-muta, la "iron-wood) Acacia Rothii . Bail (NGG lar), Meinusops parvifolia [Linn]. (NGG. ngó-ru), Eucalyptus terminalis, Sub. (NGG rar-ru), and the Aglaia elaeagnoidea Beuth (NGG. andró-e). The different parts of such a weapon are spoken of as follows, the proximal (handle) portion to-o, the distal Kwanna, the blade a-rár, the peg Kó-Kan, edge of the blade bú-ni, the shell-haft pé-ra (after the name of the shell), and the extreme proximal end of the blade beyond the haft teriwan (*= tail). For decorative purposes, the blade may be covered with a mixture of resin and fat, producing a polished pencil of iron-wood not flattened at all, projecting [To prevent the timber splitting after being cut from the tree it may be buried in the ground for two or three months before anything further is done to it. **] somewhat below the lower edge of the blade. It is fixed into the vertical edge of the blade-head which is split for the purpose (Fig.15) by means of a shell, or with the teeth: two holes are then drilled, through which twine, [Etc] is passed to tie fix bind the peg the in position, slipping being prevented by means of a thick covering of Canariu, australicum, F.V.M. cement.*** The handle is covered with similar cement, so as to prevent the weapon slipping through the hand. The cement at one or both extremities of the blade may be occasionally decorated with
** This blade may be sometimes stained Sect 19. Bull.7 Sect 2 Bull7 *** Sect. 3 Bull 7 * Further down the Gulf coastline between the Mitchell and Stanton Ri[vers] the Gunanni call them yur-nganya