Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0402
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[Page 402]
298
Some account of New Holland
the others which we supposd to be usd merely for striking fish birds &c had generaly simple points of wood or if they were barbd it was with only one splinter of wood. the instrument with which they threw them was a plain stick or peice of wood 2 & 1/2 or 3 feet in lengh at one end of which was a small knob or hook & near the other a kind or cross peice to hinder it from slipping out of their hands [Sketch of instrument]
with this contrivance simple as it is & ill fitted for the purpose they threw the lances 40 or more yards with a swiftness & steadyness truley surprizing the knob being hookd into a small dent made in the top of the lance they held it over their shoulder & shaking it an instant as balancing threw it with the greatest ease imaginable. the neatest of these throwing sticks that we saw were made of a hard reddish wood polish & shining their sides were flat & about 2 inches in breadth & the handle or part to keep it from dropping out of the hand coverd with thin layers of polished bone very white these I beleive to be the things which many of our people were deceivd by imagining them to be wooden swords