150 Annals of the South. African Museum. 



procuring one or more skeletons, I proceeded to this cave during the 

 recent vacation. I commenced my search near the middle, and 

 close to where the former discovery had been made. After digging 

 for a short time a skull appeared at a depth of about 2 feet from 

 the surface. I removed the layer of earth carefully, so as to 

 discover the exact position of the skeleton. When this was done, I 

 found that it was completely enveloped in a thick casing of dry 

 sea-weed {Zostera maritima), which was still in a perfect state of 

 preservation. Inside this again was the hair of a bushbuck skin, 

 which had evidently been wrapped round the body. The skin 

 itself had entirely rotted away, but the hair was still in good state of 

 preservation. After removing all this very carefully, the position of 

 the whole body was made quite clear. It was lying on the left side, 

 facing towards the back of the cave, with the knees and hands 

 doubled up to near the chin. Having ascertained this, I proceeded 

 to take up the bones. On coming to the head I discovered imme- 

 diately in front of the face two tortoise-shells, which, however, fell 

 to pieces on being touched. With these there was the lumbar 

 vertebra of a large ruminant, several flint scrapers, and also a 

 peculiar instrument consisting of a piece of flint fixed in gum- 

 cement, in which was inserted a piece of wood about 4 inches long, 

 serving as handle. The latter, unfortunately, was perfectly rotten, 

 and broke off short. On raising the skull I found that it was resting 

 on a third tortoise-shell, which also fell to pieces. On examining 

 the teeth, I found that they were all very much worn and several 

 were decayed, while one or two were missing altogether." ''^• 



Encouraged by the result of his find, Mr. Dumbleton began 

 excavations anew, with the following result : — 



" We commenced operations round about where the previous two 

 skeletons had been exhumed, and found nothing but layers of ash 

 and shell with a few" bones of animals here and there. Among 

 these bones were some of large fish, birds, bucks of different sizes, 

 and buffaloes. 



" Then we tried a slightly higher part at the back of the cave. 

 Here we found a large quantity of dried grass spread out over a 

 considerable space, which was evidently used as a bed. This was 

 quite near the surface, and below were the usual layers of ash and 

 shells. We next turned our attention to the mouth of the cave, 

 where the soil is considerably deeper, and here we soon found some 



* This skeleton, which proved to be that of an adult male, was presented to the 

 Museum, and is now mounted. The implement, now also ours, with the wooden 

 handle, is figured in PI. XIX., Fig. 1.50. 



