BARNUM’S AUSTRALIAN BLACKS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1016, 2 April 1883, Page 3

BARNUM’S AUSTRALIAN BLACKS.

Exhibition or Boomerang Throwing. (Auckland Star, March 22.) A number of gentlemen who were curious to see the famous boomerang throwing, prevailed upon Mr Cunningham, Barnum’s agent, to -take his jjarty up to the Surrey Hills estate, Ponsonby, yesterday, to give -a display of their skill., . The visitors were conveyed dh cabs, while the niggers were stowed comfortably itf a : spring cart, and seemed to enjoy the outing amazingly. On arrival at, the ground, they produced a, large number of boomerangs, which are wooden instruments about eighteen inches, long; -and.'i: three-. broad,, shaped like a blue-gum! leafi The spectators being duly placed in the best-position for viewing ;lhe : proceedings,’ the blacks entered into the sport with great zest. The act is a very curious one, ahdrit is very remarkable how this: and other

practices, which involve considerable skill and mechanical ingenuity, could have arisen among a people who are regarded as belonging to the very lowest race- of the human brotherhood.; curious feature in.throwing boomerangs is the. fact that though thrown with great forward velocity, the weapon is so constructed and thrown as .to make a complete circuit, acquiring a great backward momentum, and ■ falling ultimately somewhere near the . native who projected it, generally behind him. The exhibition- yesterday was exceed-ingly‘-interesting. Unfortunately a very strong wind was blowing: from the southward, which militated against the throwers, but they succeeded in showing with what nicety the return of the weapon could be ensured by the thrower on a still day. The boomerang is thrown forward with great force, creating a whizzing sound as it leaves the hand of the black.- It then acquires an up--ward motion; mounting like, a swallow on wing, and when at its greatest alti r tnde, sometimes nearly out, of sight, it looks like a bird. It describes a curve in .its course, returning again with equal, if hot greater speed than in the initial motion, carrying it backwards a long distance behind the thrower, continuing its circular course, it again moves forward, falling, when well thrown and not too much retarded by the wind, near the starting point. The blacks yesterday exhibited two kinds of boomerangs, one of which was thrown clear into the air, and the other thrown striking the ground, before making its ascent. The spectators were intensely interested and gratified, ■