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CHAPTER XXIII. 

 The Coldstream Cave. 



In Chapter XVI. I have embodied Mr. T. S. Henkel's account of 

 his visit to a cave, or rather rock-shelter, discovered by Mr. C. J. 

 Whitcher, senior, in the Humansdorp District of the Cape Colony. 

 I have also described and figured some of the objects discovered by 

 Mr. Whitcher. 



By his kind permission and generous help, for which I express 

 here my warmest thanks, we were enabled to continue the excava- 

 tions of the cave on a preconcerted plan. Mr, J. Drury, of this 

 Museum, was deputed to investigate the contents under well-defined 

 instructions — a work which he has most satisfactorily executed, until 

 circumstances beyond his control bade us cease work temporarily. 



A full account of the result of this research will appear shortly. 



I may, however, summarise it by explaining here that we were 

 rewarded by finds of importance. Among bone tools of different 

 size, were some of a shape ditfering from those I have figured in this 

 paper, especially an oblong ivory-bead, 35 mm. long by 28 mm. thick, 

 perforated in the usual ! kwe fashion, &c. Funei'al stones, of the 

 shape of Fig. 199 in Plate XXVII., were discovered, and among 

 them one bearing three polychrome, wonderfully well-preserved 

 pictures of Bushmen, far better executed than anything I have as 

 yet seen. The face is painted white, and the crescent-shaped process 

 noticeable in Fig. 199 — which I took at first to be possibly the mark 

 of a clan — stands for the hair and is black. The delineation of the 

 eye is still noticeable, and one of the faces bears streaks of red, 

 plainly intended to represent the embellishments in use among the 

 members of the clan. This stone was found resting on the shoulders 

 of a hunched-up skeleton lying on its side. There is now no doubt 

 that the Figs. 199, 200, and 201 in Plate XXVII. were also used for 

 the same purpose in the burial ceremonies of some of the Strand 

 Loopers. 



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