A Brief History of The Boomerang
by How much do you really know about the boomerang aside from being a throwing stick that returns near its thrower after its flight? The boomerang is also thought of its ability to return to the vicinity of the thrower when in fact, most boomerangs do not.
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The boomerang is a flattened, angled throwing stick possessing certain aerodynamic properties that may give it a characteristic flight. It is usually made of hard wood, roughly V-shaped, and with arms that are slightly skewed. The angle between the arms ranges from 90˚ to about 160˚. Today, it is used mainly for sport and amusement. However, during earlier times, especially in Australia where the boomerang originated, it was primarily used as a weapon for hunting animals. And up to this day, the Aborigines, various groups in Africa, the Hopi of Arizona in the United States, and certain tribes of India still use the boomerang for this purpose.
There are two general types of boomerangs. Best known of these is the returning boomerang, which is best characterized by its V shape. The Aborigines call it ‘birgan’, “bargan’ or ‘barragadan’ .When thrown into the air, it flies in a loop and normally returns to the thrower. However, a special technique is needed for it to return promptly. The boomerang should be held in the right hand, behind the shoulder, so that the rounded edge faces inwards and the “V” points backwards. A few running steps are often taken before swinging the boomerang forward and releasing it with a snap of the wrist at an angle of 60˚ to 75˚ from the horizontal. Skilled boomerang throwers can even make the boomerang circle several times at the distant end of its loop before returning. The returning type is the boomerang of choice of those who throw boomerangs as a recreational activity.
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The other type is the non returning boomerang – the “bumarang” or hunting sticks. It is much longer and heavier and has a straighter shape and sharper edges. Characterized by its straight flight, the non returning boomerang is primarily used for hunting large and even small animals. It was once used as a deadly weapon in warfare. In fact, when thrown accurately, it can kill a kangaroo and can cut a small animal almost in half.
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