298 



MATHEWS— AUSTRALIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS. 



[May 7, 



ties, with a cylindrical cavity reaching right through it, like a piece 

 of drain-pipe. The thickness of the shell is irregular, being greatest 

 near the base and middle of the shaft, where it is in places about 

 two inches, thinning out to intermediate thicknesses down to less 

 than half an inch at other portions. The outside of the wall or shell 



Fig. I. Mourning emblem. 



of the cylinder in its present damaged state is 13^^ inches, but in its 

 original state it probably measured about 16 inches, as indicated by 

 broken lines in the drawing. 



At the base, which is only slighly damaged, the longest diameter 

 of the cavity or funnel is 8^ inches, and the shortest 6 inches. The 

 corresponding internal diameters of the orifice at the smaller end are 

 5^ and 4^ inches respectively. The outside measurement of the 

 circumference at the base is 28^ inches and a similar outside 

 measurement at the smaller end is 23 inches. The original circum- 

 ference has evidently been a good deal reduced by the wasting away 



