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CHAPTEE XIII. 



Beayers, Mullers, and Mortars. 



I have already explained that the " ! kwe," or perforated stone, 

 has, in many instances, heen used as a grinding implement and 

 possibly as a braying tool. I have also tried to explain that only the 

 perfectly spherical ones could have proved useful if used as rolling 

 grinders propelled by a stick inserted in the centre and held in both 

 hands, adding, hovpever, that, vpith the exception of a few doubtful 

 cases, no evidence of the wear such a process would produce was 

 discernible. 



But supposing that even the flat ones were put to this grinding 

 purpose, their very use, like that of the spheroids, would, of course, 

 necessitate that of mortars, or querns, the hollowed part of which 

 would have to correspond in depth and breadth with the impression 

 left or produced by the convex part of the spheroidal, or the broad 

 surface of the flat ! kwe. 



Common, indeed, are the mortars, especially in or near the 

 middens, or " fonteins." Even on detached rocks they have been met 

 with in Bushmanland, but I cannot say that I have as yet met with, 

 seen, or heard of such depressions that would, undoubtedly, connect 

 them with the constant use of the " ! kwe." In PI. XXII. I figure 

 three such mortars. This name, however, is a misnomer, because 

 the depth of the longitudinal depression is really very shallow^ nor 

 is it much deeper in the centre than at each end. Nor has the 

 depression which is always more or less navicular, or boat-shaped, 

 been formed otherwise than by continued use. So little depth did 

 the workers require, that when the depression was thought to be too 

 great for their purpose, the mortar was often turned over, and the 

 grinding, rubbing or pounding was begun anew on the opposite side. 



The tools used for that grinding process are especially fitted for 

 the purpose. As in the case of "!kwes," water-worn quartzite 

 pebbles of the style figured in PI. XXIII., Figs. 168 and 170, are 



