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| FIG. 168. |
The Kan-nan, when sharpened at each end, is hardened by placing the points in a mound of smouldering bark ashes. With this stick the women dig up roots, the Mirr-n'yong especially. It is the weapon with which they fight also. When their evil passions are roused, they scold, yell, and shake these sticks in defiance. They beat the ground with them, stamp savagely, and at last, throwing off their rugs, approach each other and begin the encounter. The assailant aims blows at the head of her enemy, and the enemy holding the Kan-nan over her head horizontally, and with her hands as far apart as possible, receives perhaps six or seven blows. The assailant then lifts her weapon, and holds it horizontally so as to protect her head, and receives just as many blows, and thus the fight goes on until the men separate them. Broken knuckles are the injuries mostly given; but sometimes a clever woman hits her enemy on the head and disables her. They invariably fight fairly, and strike no foul blows.
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| FIG. 169. |
The noose used for strangling an enemy—Nerum—(Fig. 169)—consists of a needle about six inches and a half in length, made of the fibula of the kangaroo, and a rope two feet six inches in length. The cord is formed of twine of seven strands, which are five feet in length. The strands are doubled and twisted so as to form a loose rope of fourteen strands. One end of the rope is securely fastened to the head of the fibula by sinews (taken from the tail of the kangaroo), and the other end is made into a loop also securely bound by sinews. The loose rope is elastic and very strong. The fibre of which the rope is composed is similar to that obtained by pounding and washing the roots of the bulrush; but a suitable material may be got also from the bark of theEucalyptus obliqua. It is well and thoroughly twisted. The Aboriginal carrying this noose tracks his enemy to his miam; and having marked the spot where he has gone to sleep, he approaches him stealthily, slides the bone under his neck, puts it through the loop, and quickly draws it tight, so as to prevent him from uttering the slightest sound. He then throws the body with a jerk over his shoulder, and carries it to some secluded spot where he can take securely and at his ease the kidney-fat.
