FURTHER NOTES ON BURIAL CUSTOAIS, AUSTRALIA. 

 By R. H. MATHEWS, L. S. 

 (Read May 7, igio.) 



In previous numbers of this journal^ I have reported some 

 pecuhar burial customs and stones used in magical ceremonies by 

 the Australian aborigines. As the subject has been well received, 

 I beg to submit some additional information obtained by me during 

 a number of years when visiting the Darling River between Brewar- 

 rina and Menindee. 



I have before described the so-called " widows' caps " and oval 

 balls of kopai, placed upon native graves. Another emblem of 

 mourning sometimes found at aboriginal burying places in the Darl- 

 ing Valley was made as follows : A quantity of burnt gypsum, ground 

 fine and mixed with sand or ashes, to which water was added, and 

 the whole worked into a somewhat coniform cylindrical mass ^bout 

 a foot or fifteen inches long. The large end, or base, of the cylinder, 

 was sometimes elliptical and sometimes approximately circular, hav- 

 ing the major diameter from about 5 up to 8 inches, which gradually 

 diminished till near the other end, or apex, which was rounded off 

 like the end of an immense egg. See Fig. i. In the basal end a 

 deep recess was made, reaching back 6 or 8 inches, and in the 

 largest examples more than a foot, into the middle of the cylinder, 

 resembling in shape the interior of an immense wine glass or goblet. 

 The great depth of this cavity in proportion to its diameter, and 

 its conical shape shows that these articles were not suitable for head 

 ornaments. 



The largest example of this sort of article which has yet come 

 under my notice is one in my own private collection, illustrated in the 

 accompanying drawing. Unfortunately, the smaller end was broken 

 off before it was found, leaving the specimen open at both extremi- 



^ Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc, Vol. 48, pp. 1-7, 313-318, and 460-462, with 

 illustrations. 



297 



