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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES .

a Boomering [Boomerang] towards a group of the naked blacks. They instantly scatter, and
assemble together again the moment the dreaded instrument is seen to have finished
its eccentric Course.  It is thrown in every possible way to damage the enemy,
sometimes directly at them, striking the ground first, as described; sometimes it
is thrown so as to skim horizontally along close to the ground, or high in the air
to take its chance at a venture, but in all instances the Boomering [Boomerang] is held
with the points towards the object when hurled from the thrower, and happy
are they considered who escapes from its destructive range - It rips up the
individual when it strikes, as though done with a knife.

The Aborigines of New South Wales had formerly an instrument of warfare
called Yir-ra, in reality a very simple wooden sword, at first when I
saw one I mistook it for a Boomering, the shape in the blade being much
like that weapon. There was, however, this difference, the Boomering is alike at
both ends, the wooden sword has a handle at one end with a bend contrary
to the blade, there is a very good representation of such a sword in the
uplifted arm of Fig 37. Egyptian Boomering Page 135 of 'Nineveh & its Palaces' 
by Joseph Bonomi, F.R.S.L. together with a similar one Fig 38 Bomering [Boomerang]
in Nimrods hand;  so also figure 42 is not the Australian Boomering, but
the Australian wooden sword. The difference of shape appears to be only an
accidental circumstance arising from the natural growth of the tree
whence the wooden sword was taken. Just as the curve of all scymetars [scimitar]
though made of the best Damascus steel, are not alike; so, likewise, the
curve of the Australian Boomering in regard to its curved shape.