XXVI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas

- 328 ­
Clubs.-Similarly to the aboye, the striking-clubs of the Yahgan ancl
l110st Austra lian tribes are of such a plain and simple nature that they
'furnish us no specific basis for comparison. There seem to be no
reasons for suspecting that such objects could not have been developed
independently by an)' people. However if one insists that they must be
of unitary origin then one also must admit that these pl'imitive vveapons
could have been and probably were used by PI ehistoric races long before
the arrival of Homo Sapiens. As a commOll possession of the ancestors
of all moclern races we would have an additional reason for dismissing
them as valid evidence in attempts to shav~ spe..:itic relationship betweell
modern cultures such as the Australian and Fuegian.
In addition Koppers postulates a unitar)' origin for the equall)' simple
ceremonial club used by fue Yahgan men al funerals ancl the ordinary
digging-stick of the Australian women. Since the former differs only
slightly from the ordinar)' Yahgan clubs there seems to be no reason al
the moment for regarding it as other than a variant of the Jatter, if a
relationship is sought with an)' othel' weapon. The origin of the Australian
digging-stick is obscure. Itmay have' developecl as a cliggingstick
or as a weapon. At least it now serves both functions. It \Vas
not present in Tasmanian culture.
Beehi:ve Huts.-This term, as already rema rked, is of sl1ch a general
nature and has been applied to such simple dwellings in various parts of
the world showing onl)' general resemblances in shape but differing in
construction and in materials used that its value for specific comparative
purposes in our estimation appears to be ni\.
Fire-dr-ill.-Here we ha ve another widespread simple trait possibly
of considerable antiquity. Although it has been almost entirely lacking
111 Tiena del Fuego in historic times ancl Roth has argued against its
use in Tasmania the proof of its former presence in these regions would
come as no surprize. However slIch a wiclely distributed primitive trait
as the fire-drill seems of ver)' questiona ble worth for the problem at
hand.
Lack 01 a Halted Axe.-It is arglled that th e Jack of a hafted axe
in both Fuegia and Southeastern Australia is responsible for the manufacture
of bark canoes rather than of dogouts 01' plank boats. HO'wever
the hafted axe is not lacking in Southeastern Australia. How long it has
been there seems besicJe the point fer its presence has not caused an)'
change in simple bark canoes cut from a single sheet of bark the only
canoes manufacturecl in this region. Incleed it is possible that hafted
axes h ;:¡ ve a greater antiqu:tv in th :é region than lhe :::e bar\..: canees.