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6
letters 5. On the Lower Tully R^iver are to be met the four following types of spear, the 3- and 4- pronged fish-spear being an introduction of but comparatively recent years:-
(a) The wommera-spear is built of two pieces, the proximal longer than the distal: the former is made of grass-tree ( MAL Pi-ran) or Eupomatia Laurina ^R.Br. (MAL. mu-jir), the latter from a split Archontophoenix Alexandroe ^ Wendl ( MAL. Kopaugara), , Ptychosperma elegans (MAL.warkai), or from a xxxx sapling of Myrtus exalta, (MAL. yambi) Stingareee-barbs may be attached or not; if present the spear is called a warra-katcha, and its distal extremitycovered with red and white rings, but if not present, this extremity is smeared with a uiform red. It is used for fighting purposes, and for spearing wallabies.
(b) The chukaji is ^ ahand spear, formed of a single piece of [?] local 'hardwood' xxx (MAL. pindango) obtained only from Mount Mackay, either cut out from or a sapling itself of, the tree. Its proximal end is pointed, but of course not so sharp as the distal. From about 5 to 8 or 9 feet in length. It is this spear which is used by four gins at the Prun Ground*, and also employed by men for fighting.
(c) The waraki, also thrown without a wommera,is so - named from the black-palm (Ptychosperma elegans ^ Blume) out of which is split ^ and is mostly ^ used for spearing eels and other fish.
(d) the wi-valliis another hand-spear also cut out of one piece, 7 to 8 feet long, heavy, clumsily made, and the only spear having a spatulate tip, the latter being covered with ngobi gum: the Butt-end tapers somewhat. Made of local 'hard-wood' ( Myrtus exaltata ^Bail) , or another timber known as yalma.
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* Sect. 15 Bull.4 xxxx xxxx
Meliope Austalasica, F.v.M. ^ see Sect 13. Bull7-