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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOMERING [BOOMERANG] -

This instrument of War used by the Aborigines of New South Wales, is named by
Europeans the Boomering [Boomerang] and is of a half moon shape, it is made of a
piece of hard wood Myall or Briccalow, both these trees are accacias [acacias] and
are similar to Lignum Vitae -  The Boomering has one side plain, the other
side Convex, and is from thirty to forty inches in length, & from two to two
and a half inches wide at the broadest part and tapering away at each end
nearly to a point. The Concave part is from one eighth to a quarter of an
inch thick, and the Convex quite sharp.

This instrument when thrown into the air revolves in its own
Centre, acting like the screw. & forming a thread of the atmosphere,
and returns forming a Circle in its orbit form & to the thrower.
it is in fact a section of the screw. A native can throw this simple instrument
forty or fifty yards horisontaly [horizontally] skimmimg along the surface not more than
three or four feet from the ground, when it will suddenly rise into the air
to the height of fifty or sixty yards describing a considerable curve and
finally fall at his feet, during the whole of this evolution the Boomering keeps
turning with great rapidity like a piece of wood revolving on a pivot
with a whizing [whizzing] noise, to effect which it is thrown against the wind.

In war the natives throw the Boomering against the ground
which it strikes in its revolution & rebounds apparently with double violence,
and strikes at random some distant object, & wounds severely with its
sharpened extremities.

The use of this instrument of which the natives are very
dextrous astonishes Europeans, from its unmanageable & unwarlike shape.
Previous to throwing it the Natives poise & manuvre [maneuvre]  it in the hands by the
[wrist?], running a few steps forward when thrown it is accompanied by a bend forward of
the body which adds greatly to its velocity, Some of the natives Can throw
it out of sight.

Lieutenant Breton says it is not easy to Comprehend by
what law of projection the Boomering is made to take the singular direction
it does. In the hands of a person unacquainted with its use it is a