158 Annals of the South African Museum. 



broken, probably owing to the weight of material above it. The 

 skeleton appeared to be that of a full-grown man and much decotyed. 



" In another part of the cave, about 2 feet below the present 

 surface, the skeletons of two children were found. In these two 

 cases only one flat stone was placed above the body. In one case, 

 part of the skeleton was found adhering to the stone, showing 

 clearly that the stone was placed directly above the body. The 

 stones removed from the graves were carefully examined, but no 

 indications of paintings on them were found. 



" The cave still contains a great deal of debris, and it is estimated 

 that at least fifty skeletons may still be found. 



" Up to the present over twenty skeletons have been discovered in 

 this cave." ■•'- 



A communication of this importance i^equires, however, careful 

 perusal, and I had less hesitation in asking Mr. Henkel for more 

 details because I enjoy his friendship, and I have good reasons also 

 for appreciating his power of observation. 



This is his answer to my further queries : "I notice in your note 

 of the . . . that you lay emphasis on the position of the skeleton. 

 All I can say is, the three I took out were distinctly lying on their 

 sides. W. says that all those he had taken out, about seventeen, 

 were lying on the right side. From the position of the stones it is 

 quite evident that the bodies were not buried in an upright position. 

 You will observe from my account that there was no direct evidence 

 to connect the stones decorated with drawings with skeletons, 

 although in the first instance I was led to believe that this was 

 S0.+ Further with I'egard to your letter of . . ., the skeletons I 

 removed showed no evidence of a bush buck skin. Fine remains of 

 organic matter were discovered, but nothing to show that it was 

 other than the human remains. No tortoise-shell, no implement as 

 sketched by you.]: Numerous round perforated stones (! kw6s) 

 some showing many chips, and seemingly used for a long time, 

 were also discovered." 



The evidence obtained from this Coldstream cave throws a good 

 deal of light on the mode of life of the people that inhabited it. 

 New facts of very great importance are revealed ; others corroborate 

 discoveries already made in similar localities, and it is interesting to 



* The relics mentioned in that account of the discovery of the Coldstream cave 

 are now in the Museum Collection. 



t Subsequent excavations carried out by us have proved that these stones with 

 paintings were deposited on the skeleton. 



: That of PI. XIX., Fig. 150. 



