ROCK PICTURES AND CEREMONIAL STONES. 497 



Fig. 4 is another implement of decomposed sandstone, 16f in. in 

 length, Avhich, by coincidence, is the same length as Fig. 2. At the 

 thickest part the diameter measures 2-^% in., and a section through any 

 part of the shaft would give an almost circular outline. On the face 

 selected for illustration there are five pairs of incised lines and two 

 single marks — one of the latter reaching round nearly half the circum- 

 ference. On the other side of the stone, not visible in the drawing, are 

 twenty-one marks, comprising triplets, pairs, and single cuts. 



Fig. ia represents the base, whose diameter varies from If in. to 

 2j in. The usual saucer-shaped concavity has a mean diameter of 

 nearly H in., and its depth is one-twentieth of an inch. This well- 

 shapeil specimen was found on a sand ridge on Moira Plain Run, about 

 50 miles south-easterly from "NVilcannia, and weighs i lb. 8 oz. 



Fig. 5. — A fine^gTained sandstone, llf in. in length, with a 

 maximum diameter of 2^ in. The shaft is slightly cui-ved or crescent- 

 shaped, which gives variety to this specimen, but there are no incised 

 lines now visible upon it. The concavity in the base. Fig. i>a, is three- 

 fcrtieths of an inch deep. This stone was discovered on Culpaulin 

 Kun, about 16 miles below Wilcannia, Darling River. Weight, 3 lb. 

 10 oz. 



Fig. 6, a soft sandstone, 10 in. long, with a diameter of 3^ in. at 

 the thickest part of the circtilar shaft. The depth of the concavity in 

 the base. Fig. 6<z, is live-fortieths of an inch, and the w^eight of the 

 stone 3 lb. 7 oz. It was found at Tonga Lake, north-west of the Paroo 

 River, in approximate latitude 30i degrees, and longitude 143f 

 degrees. There are a few scattered inscriptions which are too much 

 weathered to be decipherable. 



Fig. 7 is made of sandstone, and comes from Pulgamtirtee Run^. 

 near Cobham Lake, about 50 miles southerly from Tibooburra, in the- 

 north-west comer of New South Wales. The length is 9 in., and the 

 greatest diameter 3;|- in. The side of the specimen illustrated contains- 

 eighteen horizontal incisions, some of which are in pairs, one has three' 

 lines, and the reinaining eleven are placed contiguous to one another. 

 There are a few similar marks on the other side of the stone. This 

 specimen is interesting from its great thickness in comparison with its 

 length, and from its symmetrical conical outline. 



Fig. 7a shows the base of the stone, which is represented by two 

 slightly oval outlines, the external one giving the size of the base and 

 the innermost showing the perimeter of the concavity. The concavity 

 stopes regularly from the margin towards the centre, where the 

 greatest depth is three^twentieths of an inch. Weight of specimen, 

 2 lb. 15 oz. 



The stones above described have ceased to be employed in the 

 ceremonies of the remnants of the Darling, Paroo, and other tribes, 

 and, thei-efore, it is not easy to obtain much information respectino- 

 their meaning and uses. An old aboriginal, named Hariy Peny, 

 whom I have often met at different places on the Darling, of which 

 river he was a native, gave me the following information : — He said 

 he had never seen the stones used, but his father and other old blacks 

 had told him that they were employed in ceremonial observances con- 

 nected with the assembling of the people at the time the iiardoo seed 

 was ripe. Adjacent triblets would be invited to participate in the 

 harvest, and met at the appointed place, bringing with them various 



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