ABOKIGINAL IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS — ETHERIDGE. 6 



precious and sacred of the Black's possessions, and only used in 

 the mysteries of the Bora. I think, therefore, that unless Prof. 

 Tate's view can be supported by stronger evidence than mere 

 opinion, it must be dismissed, whatever the real significance of 

 this circular incised ornament may be. 



Mr. W. W. Froggatt, when in Kimberley some years ago, paid 

 considerable attention to the practices of the Aboriginal inhabi- 

 tants. He observes* that during initiation " men are stationed 

 round whirling flat-oval sticks, on which are carved curious 

 sy77iboIs." The italics are mine. 



We know that amongst some ancient peoples, and even amongst 

 the remnant of some existing, the circle or disc was symbolic of 

 the sun. Our acquaintance, however, with the beliefs and esoteric 

 mysteries of the Aborigines is too limited to hazard a suggestion 

 that the figures on the " Bull-roarers " and stone implements 

 bear a similar reference — but it is possible. 



One of Mr. Hardman's " Bull-roarers " bears five sets of 

 concentric circles, separated by groups of vertical incisions, and 

 horizontal marginal ones, as in our PL ii., Figs. 6 and 7. A second 

 implement bears irregular concentric semicircles at the apices, 

 one on each side, and four sets of quadrangular figures concentric 

 within one another. Two of the implements now figured are said 

 to be from South Australia, but the correspondence in every way 

 with Hardman's Kimberley figures! causes me to suspect that 

 they must in reality come from the same district, or at any rate 

 high up in Central Australia. 



A few other cases of circular ornament in Australia may be 

 mentioned, such as the circles, and ovals as well, carved on 

 the trees surrounding the larger circle of a Bora ground near 

 Gloucester, N.S. Wales,! and the numerous figures found by Mr. 

 Richard Helms, during the propress of the Elder Exploring 

 Expedition from South to West Australia. On a cave-shelter 

 pictograph at Arcoeillinna Wells, S.A. § are several of these 

 concentric circles in red. Mr. Helms says these •' are of very 

 frequent occurrence, and have undoubtedly a symbolic meaning." 

 Others were met with at Wa-Wee Rock Holes in another Cave- 

 shelter, and at Mount lUibillie on white pigment. || The most 

 complete ones, however, were found in a similar situation near 

 " Camp 6," Everard Ranges. Here is a circle in red of sexen 

 rings, a black nucleus, and radial bars passing from the centre 



*Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., (2), iii., 1888, PI. 2, p. 6.52. 



t Proc. E. Irish lead. (2), i., 1888, No. 1, t. 2. f . 4-5a, & t. 3. 



JFraser; Aborigines of N.S. Wales, 1892, pi. opp. p. 11. 



§ Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., xvi., 1896, Pt. 3, t. 9. 



\\Loc. cit., t. 10a & 11. 



