300 MATHEWS— AUSTRALIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS. [^lay 7, 



much diminished in thickness by disintegration. It is much the 

 thinnest part of the shell, being in places less than half an inch thick. 

 The lower half of the photograph represents the thickest part of 

 the shell from the front to the rear. 



My specimen was found on Tongo Station, near Lake Tongo, 

 which flows into the Paroo River. Tongo is in the county of 

 Fitzgerald, in the northwestern portion of New South Wales, about 

 80 miles north-northeast from Wilcannia, and is approximately in 

 latitude 30° 30' and longitude 143° 40'. 



A somewhat similar specimen to that illustrated, but smaller, 

 was found some years ago a few miles northwest from Tilpa, Darl- 

 ing River, and is now in a private collection to which I was allowed 

 access. I had not time to make a complete drawing, but I took the 

 following measurements. Complete outside length from base to 

 apex, 12^ inches. The cavity in the base occupies the whole of 

 the interior of the article, extending back in a conical form for 

 9 inches. The longer diameter of the orifice at the base is 7^ 

 inches, and the shorter 7 inches. There are no marks of a net on 

 the inner wall and it is improbable that such ever existed. The 

 circumference at the base, outside measurement, is 30 inches. The 

 shell is somewhat thin throughout, ranging from a quarter to three 

 quarters of an inch thick, until near the top of the cone, where it is 

 about 3 inches in thickness. Like my own specimen, it has been 

 reduced in size by exposure to the weather. 



Another specimen which I have seen is a solid conical mass of 

 kopai about ten inches long and six inches in diameter at the base 

 or larger end. Li the base is a shallow concavity, the depth of 

 which is only about an inch and three quarters, without any indica- 

 tion of the marks of a net. Such an article could not be worn on 

 one's head, because unless it were kept continually balanced, it would 

 fall off. Its great weight would also be prohibitive. In my opinion, 

 both this and the last described specimen, were not intended for 

 wear, but were made for the purpose of being deposited upon graves 

 by the relatives of the parties interred. This was done immediately 

 after the burial, whereas the widow's cap was not deposited till the 

 termination of her period of mourning. 



