great velocity, in a perpendicular plane for say one hundred yards, when
it became inclined to the left, travelling from right to left. It then
circled upward, the plane in which it revolved indicating a cone, the
apex of which would lie some distance in front of the thrower. "When the
boomerang in travelling passed round to a point above and somewhat to
the right of the thrower, and perhaps one hundred feet above the ground,
it appeared to become stationary for a moment; I can only use the term
_hovering_ to describe it. It then commenced to descend, still revolving
in the same direction, but the curve followed was reversed, the
boomerang travelling from left to right, and, the speed rapidly
increasing, it flew far to the rear. At high speed a sharp whistling
noise could be heard. In the second method, which was shown by 'bungil
wunkun,' and elicited admiring ejaculations of 'ko-ki' from the black
fellows, the boomerang was thrown in a plane considerably inclined to
the left. It there flew forward for say the same distance as before,
gradually curving upward, when it seemed to 'soar' up--this is the best
term--just as a bird may be seen to circle upward with extended wings.
The boomerang of course was all this time revolving rapidly. It is
difficult to estimate the height to which it soared, making, I think,
two gyrations; but judging from the height of neighboring trees on the
river bank, which it surmounted, it may have reached one hundred and
fifty feet. It then soared round and round in a decreasing spiral, and
fell about one hundred yards in front of the thrower. This was performed
several times. The descending curve passed the thrower, I think, three
times.

"Another method of throwing was mentioned; namely, to throw the
boomerang in such a manner that it would strike the ground with
its flat side some distance in front of the thrower. It would
then rise upward in a spiral, returning in the same. This was
not attempted, as it was decided the boomerang was not strong
enough. A final throw in a vertical plane, so that the missile
struck the ground violently fifty or sixty yards in advance,
terminated the display. It ricocheted three times with a
twanging noise and split along the centre. My black friends
said they should soon manufacture a number of the best
constructed 'wunken' to show me. I observed that the spectators
stood about a hundred yards on one