The plaything (Fig. 170) called by the natives of the Yarra Wi-tch-wi-tch, We-a-witcht, Weet-weet, or Wa-voit, is one of the most extraordinary instruments used by savages, and in some respects is almost as interesting as the boomerang. The head—in shape like two cones placed base to base—is about four inches and a half in length and one inch in diameter; and the stem, not quite two-tenths of an inch in diameter, is about twenty-one inches in length. The whole length of the instrument varies in different specimens from twenty-three inches to twenty-six inches. Those I have seen are from twenty-four to twenty-six inches. The best—and only the best were used in olden times—resemble that shown in the figure. The knob and handle are of one piece; but not infrequently it is found convenient to fix a knob of hard, heavy wood to a suitable handle by splitting one end of the handle, and fastening it with gum and sinews to the knob. They are often broken when the thrower misses his aim; but it is easy to repair one by joining the handle to the knob with sinews and gum; and an instrument so made behaves nearly as well as one carved out of a solid piece of wood. The handle is very flexible. The weight of the toy is less than two ounces.
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| FIG. 170. |
I had an opportunity of seeing this missile used when I visited the Aboriginal Station at Coranderrk, on the 15th January 1873. I had previously been making enquiries respecting the Weet-weet, and had asked one of the Aborigines to make me one; and as soon as the men saw the toy, the game of Weet-weet became once more popular, and several of them were provided with the instrument when I visited them. The game began in this manner: The throwers, each holding one or more of these toys in their hands, stood in a group near a small rise or hillock in the grassy ground in front of the school-house. They threw in turn, and carefully noted where each instrument fell. The manner of throwing the toy was very curious and interesting. The native, having carefully looked at the hillock, walked about six or eight yards from it, and then turned his back towards it. In the hollow of the palm of his right hand he placed the thin end of the Weet-weet, grasping it lightly with the thumb and first and second fingers, and slightly doubling inwards the third and fourth, and then held it horizontally, nearly level with his forehead, very tenderly holding the tip of the head between the finger and thumb of the left hand. In this attitude he stood a second or two, and suddenly running backwards a few steps, violently wheeled round, and with extraordinry force threw the instrument downwards towards the hillock. The cone, touching the grassy mound, glanced off, and flew to a great distance, hitting the ground and again glancing off until its flight was stopped by some impediment. All the men were greatly excited, and, one after another, threw the Weet-weet. It is not easy to describe the mode in which it is thrown, but from Tommy Farmer, who
