Savage Life in Australia; The Story of William Buckley the Runaway Convict Who Lived Thirty-Two Years Among the Blacks of Australia (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ...heavy convex or bow-shaped shields about three feet long and very narrow, being not more than six inches in the centre. They were very hard and strong, and their handles were formed by hacking and chopping a hole in the solid body of wood. A lighter and wider shield with a handle made of another piece of wood, was used to ward off the spears of their enemies. HESE peaceful wanderings amidst the lonely glades of the bush were brought to an abrupt termination by the two families falling in with a tribe of about fifty individuals. This tribe was friendly towards them so they joined their forces, and travelled with it across the country to meet another tribe. The Boomerang is a paradox in missile power. There are two kinds of Boomeranes, that which is thrown a. distance ahead, and that which returns on its own axis to the thrower. I saw a native of slight frame throw one of them two hundred and ten yards, and much further when a ricochet was permitted. With the latter he made casts truly surprising to witness. The weapon, after skimming breast high nearly out of sight, suddenly rose high into the air, and returning with amazing velocity towards its owner buried itself six inches in the turf within a few yards of his feet. An enemy or quarry ensconced behind a tree safe from spear, may be taken in the rear and severely hurt or killed by the recoil of the Boomerang. The Emu or Kangaroo are stunned or disabled not knowing how to avoid its eccentric gyrations; amongst a flight of wild-ducks just rising from the water, or a flock of pigeons on the ground this weapon commits great havoc. At close quarters it becomes no bad substitute for a. cutlass. ' Sir Thomas Mitchell, on observing the motion of the Boomerang in the air whirling round a...