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obtainable, as it lasts better. The handle is either haft-less (Fig. 20) or else hafted with two pieces of Melo shell fixed on with beeswax (Fig. 21), or else with a thin lath bent on itself (Fig. 22). The Cape Bedford name of the implement is milbir.
At Butcher's Hill I have seen wommeras made out of a yellow coloured timber (KYE. nga-til) not which I have not yet succeeded in getting identified. On the Bloomfield R, and along the small stretch of coast line between it and Cape Grafton, is to be seen the best or moon-shaped variety of spear-thrower (KYE. ballur), in addition to the con straight kind. The ballur (Fig. 23)** is employed for spearing fish or birds with, especially anything at very close quarters. It is comparatively short, made of a light timber, is haftless and generally decorated with red and white pigment at its distal extremity. It is thrown in a manner different from all other wommeras in that the blade rests in the fork between the first finger and thumb, instead of as in the ordinary style, between the first and second fingers.*** As an example of how two tribes, although almost contiguous, may be ignorant of each other's ways and customs, it is interesting to note that sometime during 1897 one of these moon-shaped spear throwers was thrown up on the beach at Cape Bedford*, and brought before to [the]Rev. Schwarz who, never having seen one before and being anxious to know something about it, asked the local blacks what it was: they could not give it a name, but told him that the person who made it must have been mad!
*** Fig [Roth] - Ethnol. Studies, [etc. 1897] Sect 253
* Cape Bedford is only about 30 miles as the crow flies from the Bloomfield R[iver], where the moon-shaped throwers are manufactured.