336 " widow's cap " of the Australian aborigines, 



of the head aperture is much incurved from pressure, particu- 

 larly at the sides, the width in consequence is ill-defined. The 

 length of the aperture is nine and a half inches, and depth of the 

 interior three and a half, allowing two inches for the thickness of 

 the crown. The impression of the net, only partially preserved, 

 exhibits a large rhomboidal mesh for which a coarse string had 

 been used. In places the impressions of the latter are filled w^ith 

 actual casts of the string employed. This cap cannot be looked 

 upon as a typical example by any means, from causes already 

 explained. The weight is 7 lbs. 14 ozs. 



Sir Joseph Abbott's cap is from Dunlop Holding, near Louth, 

 Dai'ling River. 



Mr. Kilgour's specimen was found on the west bank of the 

 Darling River, about twenty-two miles above Wilcannia, on the 

 Mount Murchison Holding, on a sand-drift within fifty yards 

 of high water mark (1 flood mark). 



The Museum example is from Rufus Creek, Lake Victoria, 

 Murray River, N. S. Wales. 



The name of these strange head-coverings no doubt differed 

 according to tribe, and was as varied as that of most other articles 

 used by the Aborigines. Eyre calls them Korno;''' by Angas they 

 are simply referred tot as " Widows' Caps," whilst Bulmer statesj 

 that in the Kulnine Tribe ["? Kulkyne Tribe, Murray R., Co. 

 Karkarooc, Victoria] they were called Kopi. 



Sir Joseph Abbott's specimen may, I think, be accepted as a 

 fairly good example of the form generally adopted. One of 

 Angas' figures§ exhibits a cap with a good convexity of crown 

 and a longitudinally elongated form, and the two figures|| given 

 by Mr. E. M. Curr are of a similar shape. The outline assumed 

 by Mr. Kilgour's specimen is probably exceptional. 



As a rule the caps were assumed by widows as a token of grief 

 for the loss of a husband, but amongst the Darling River Tribes 



* .Journ. Exped. Discovery in Central Australia, 1845, ii, Expl. pi. 1, f. 17. 



t S. Australia Illustrated, 1846, Expl. pi. 30, f. 15. 



X Fide Curr, Australian Race, 1886, ii. p. 238. 



§ Loc. cit. pi. .30, f. 15. 



II Australian Race, 1886, ii. pi. opp. p. 238. 



