306 MATHEWS— AUSTRALIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS. [May 7, 



clay, sometimes found cropping out on the slopes of ridges, or banks 

 of watercourses, was also utilized for the same purpose. The shape 

 of the cap was the same, no matter what the material consisted of. 

 Clay caps, when removed from the head, and exposed to the 

 weather on a grave, soon became disintegrated and fell to pieces ; 

 hence none of the caps of this material have been preserved by the 

 white people. 



White is the favorite color for mourning among the Australian 

 aborigines, but when it cannot be obtained other colors must be 

 substituted for it. It is perhaps needless to add that a cap of any 

 sort, whether made of kopai or mud, and whether worn by a man 

 or a woman, was removed during sleeping hours. It was also left 

 in camp when the wearer, of either sex, was away in search of 

 food, or while doing any kind of work. 



Parramatta, N. S. Wales, March 5, 1910. 



