14— THE CIRCLE IN SOUTH AFRICAN MYTH. 



By Prof. E. H. L. Schwarz, F.G.S., A.R.C.S. 



(Illustrated with Lantern Slides.) 



[Abstract.] 



The Tikoe of the Bushman is a rounded stone bored through 

 the middle. The usual size is about five inches in diameter, and 

 never exceeds seven inches; very small ones are occasionally found. 

 The common form is nearly spherical, sometimes slightly cone-shaped, 

 and more rarely disc-shaped. The shaping and centering is usually 

 fairly accurate, but irregular ones are found on the Cape Flats, and, 

 of course, if the stone has been used for other purposes than that 

 for which it was made, such as paint or coffee grinders, the once 

 regular stone may be worn down to any shape. The commonly 

 accepted theory as to the use of the Tikoe is that it was fastened to 

 the centre of the Kibe, or digging stick, and helped to give impetus 

 to the light instrument.* Upholders of this theory, however, fail 

 to account for the small Tikoes, or the flat disc-shaped ones ; the 

 former are certainly miniatures of the larger ones, and were probably 

 worn as an ornament or charm, but why imitate the domestic make- 

 weight for such a purpose? In the manner in which they are now 

 found, I am of an opinion that they were not used at all as personal 

 belongin<^^s, but were placed at certain spots to indicate boundaries. 

 Mr. Peringuey, whose knowledge of the South African stone-imple- 

 ments is unrivalled, has long tried to prove his contention that the 

 small stone pillarsf occasionally unearthed were used for this purpose. 

 In response to Mr. Peringuey's inquiry. Dr. Theo. Hahn wrote that 

 is was well known to him that the Bushman tribes occupy certain 

 territories ; for instance, in Great Namaqualand, the tribe of the 

 Obanin on the Lower Fish River ; that of the Gamin and the Geinin 

 north-east of Angra Pequena ; that of the Hei-guis between lat. 

 26O-28O S.. and about long. 2oO-22°; further, that of the Gabe and 

 Ai Bushmen, between Gobabis and Kaitses. In all these cases the 

 land-marks are certain sand-dunes, hills, kopjes, periodical rivers, 

 vleis, springs, and also trees, and in one instance, a grave. That 

 the above-named Bushmen have not changed their abode since the 

 commencement of this century can be conclusivelv proved. § I have 

 found the Tikoes so abundantly in the south of the Colony that of 

 late years I neglected to pick them up when I saw them ; but the 

 distribution of these stones, sufficiently heavy to seriously inconveni- 

 ence the small Bushmen, suggested to me independently that they 

 were used to mark boundaries, and were thus scattered up and down 

 the land to mark the limits of the family hunting grounds. 



* E. J. Dunn, Trans. S.A. Phil. Soc, Vol. II., 1880, p. 22. 



t Several of these pillars or mullers were illustrated in a paper by Dr. 

 Schonland, published in the Records of the Albany Museum, Vol.11. Part I., 

 1907. 



§ Min. Proc. XVI., Trans. S.A., Phil. Soc, Vol. IX, part I., 1895. 



