The New Student's Reference Work/Boomerang

Boom′erang, an instrument used by the natives of Australia in hunting and war. It is about two feet long, flat on one side and rounded on the other, with a sharp edge. It is made of hard wood bent into a curve. The method of using this remarkable weapon is as follows: taking it by one end with the bulged side downward, the Australian throws it forward as if to hit an object some yards in front. Instead of going straight forward, it slowly rises in the air, whirling round and round in a curved line, until it reaches quite a height, when it begins to fly back again, and, sweeping over the head of the thrower, falls behind him. This surprising motion is produced by the action of the air on the bulging side of the boomerang. The Australians have a remarkable skill in the use of this weapon, and it is said that with it they can almost cut an animal in two.