ROCK PAINTINGS OF THE NORTHERN TRANSVAAL. 



By Rev. Noel Roberts. 



{Plates 17-22.) 



The northern horizon of the town of Pietersburg is bounded 

 by a range of mountains, which, hke the body of a monster 

 serpent, stretches in sinuous folds from east to west across the 

 almost level plains. The head of the monster is lost to view 

 in the dim and distant low veld to the east, but fold on fold, 

 for twenty miles or so. its body can be traced against the north- 

 ern sky. Near the brackish " pan " from which the mountain 

 takes its name (the Zontpansbercj) it dips precijjitately under- 

 ground, then, reappearing further on towards the setting sun, 

 the Blaamvberg marks the sacral portion of its body which slo|>es 

 away in a great southern curve to its tail in Makabene. 



During the construction of the railway to Messina, which 

 passes through the Zoutpansberji-, great excitement was created 

 by the announcement that a set of Bushman ])aintings had been 

 discovered. From time to time reports have been received oi 

 frescoes in the Blaauwberg, but the most important relics of the 

 Bushman race are to be foiuid in the wild country at the western 

 extremities of the range. The Makabene is a rugged ])lateau. 

 triangular in shape, and protected on almost every side by 

 precipitous walls of stone. This natural fortress api)ears to 

 have been a favoured Bushman liannt. Its heights command a 

 boundless view across the plains, where mighty herds of antelope, 

 of bttffalo, giraffe and elephant ])rovided them witli sustenance, 

 and watered glens and rockv kloofs afforded safe asylum from 

 their foes. 



The head([uarters of the kx^al Busliman tribe apjjears to 

 have been situated in a narrow ravine at the western end of 

 the i)lateau. The precipices on each side of this gorge abound 

 in shallow caves such as the Bushmen loved, and everywhere 

 traces of their occu])ation can still l)e seen in coloured frescoes 

 on the rocks. 



Some of these are very line, and compare most faxotirably 

 with the work of Bushman artists in Natal and elsewhere. Yet 

 they have a distinct character of their own. The eland, which 

 is a favourite subject almost everywhere, is nc^ represented here 

 at all, as far as I am aware, its ])lace being taken by the harte- 

 beest and ijallah. Inhere are but few representations of animal- 

 maskefl men. and a large number of headless human grou])> 

 occur. 



No visitor can k)ok upon these drawings without express- 

 ing wonder as to how the i)ictures were produced, the composi- 

 tion of their jjaints, and the objects served by the frescoes. 



In many parts of Natal and the Cai)e Province a round 

 .stone which contains a nucletis of ochre is foimd in the vicinity 

 of Bushman caves, and this is popularly suj)posed to have pro- 



