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RESULTS OF AN EXPLORATION OF ABORIGINAL 

 ROCK-SHELTERS AT PORT HACKING. 



By "Walter R. Harper. 



That Port Hacking must have once been a favourite camping 

 ground of the aborigines is proved by the number of "rock-shelters," 

 or, as they are locally styled, " gunyahs," along its shores. And 

 this is not surprising when one considers the advantages it offers, 

 especially on the southern side. Abundant fresh watex', splendid 

 beaches upon which to draw the nets, great stretches of shoal 

 water in which to use the fishing spear, shell-fish in endless 

 numbers everywhere, native fruits plentiful, that favourite source 

 of vegetable food, the cabbage tree palm, by no means scarce, and 

 finally, wallabies, bandicoots and opossums even now to be met 

 with on neighbouring ridges, seem combined to form a veritable 

 aboriginal paradise. 



Local tradition points to Tyreal Head and says that there was the 

 great crossing-place of all the South Coast blacks on their visits 

 to the north. Near at hand is a great cave, the roof of which 

 fell in, " smothering a whole tribe." Further up the bay is a 

 cave from which many tons of "dry-bankers" (shells used for 

 making lime) have been removed, exposing dozens of complete 

 skeletons in the process. And so on. Unhappily I was not 

 fortunate enough to light upon such a treasure heap, and of the 

 six shelters visited I need describe only three, because the others 

 contained simply the usual beds of shells, separated here and 

 there by ancient fire-places — bones, whether hvmian or otherwise. 

 being markedly absent. 



