an aboriginal name for a throwing-stick (q.v.); spelt in various ways (seven inthe quotations), according as different writers have tried toexpress the sound of the aboriginal word.
1793. Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 407 [in a Vocabulary]:
« Womar – – a throwing stick.»
1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New SouthWales,' p. 613:
«Wo-mer-ra – – throwing stick.»
1814. L. E. Threlkeld, `Australian Grammar' [as spoken onHunter's River, etc.], p. 10:
«As a barbarism – – wommerru, a weapon.»
1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 240:
«Pieces of hard iron-bark to represent their war weapon, thewomerah . . . the whirling womerahs.»
1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions into the Interiorof Eastern Australia,' vol. ii. p. 342:
«The spear is thrown by means of a wammera, which isa slight rod, about three feet long, having at one end a nicheto receive the end of a spear.»
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 492:
«But showed the greatest reluctance in parting with theirthrowing-sticks (wommalas).»
1850. J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 58:
«They employ also, as a warlike weapon, a smaller kind of spearor javelin, which is discharged by means of a notched stickcalled a Woomera; and with this simple artillery I have seenthem strike objects at 150 yards' distance. They also employthis minor spear in capturing the Bustard.»
1863. M. K. Beveridge, `Gatherings among the Gum-trees,'p. 13:
«Then the Wamba Wamba warriors,
Sprang unto their feet with Tchgrels
Ready fitted to their Womrahs.»
Ibid. (In Glossary) pp. 84, 85:
« Tchgrel, reed spear. Womrah, spear heaver.»
1868. J. Bonwick, `John Batman, the Founder of Victoria,'p. 20:
«Taking with him, therefore, on board the Port Phillip,presents of spears, wommeras, boomerangs, and stone tomahawks,he tried to get from the Williamstown waters.»
1889. P. Beveridge, `Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina,'p. 48:
«Spears all ready shipped, that is, having the hook of theWomerar (throwing-stick) placed in the small cavity made forthat purpose in the end of the spear, with both raised inreadiness for launching at the object.»
1892. J. Fraser, `Aborigines of New South Wales,' p. 73:
«The `womara' is an instrument of wood, from twenty-four tothirty inches long, and a little thicker than a spear. Unlikethe spear, it is not thrown at the enemy in battle, but remainsalways in the black man's hand . . . he ornaments itprofusely, back and front. . . . The point is turned up,exactly like the point of a lady's crochet needle. . . .The spears have a dimpled hole worked in their butt end, whichhole receives the point of the hook end of the `throw-stick.'»