PROBLllMS OF ABORIGINAL AliT IN AUSTRALIA. 



217 



types, in face and head-dress, the latter bein^ most peculiar 

 — like an elongated bladder, curved, and ending in a 

 trefoil. The lower figure wears a Phrygian cap, to which 

 this strange head-dress is attached. The limbs taper in an 

 extraordinary Avay. The tassels reappear, m abundance, on 

 the larger figure. 



A very remarkable cave-drawing has been figured by 

 Westall, and can be seen at the Colonial Institute library. 

 It represents a procession of 32 men and women with a 

 kangaroo at their head. Most of the figures are draped to 

 the ankles ; and two, much larger than the rest, brandish a 

 hilted sword, and a long staff, respectively. It was found at 

 Memory Cove, South Australia. 



The next picture shown is puzzling indeed [Fig. 7]. 



Over and across the figures of a snake and an old-man kan- 

 garoo have been drawn (as shown) five quite abnormal 

 human figures, with the strange tapering extremities (some- 

 times ending in lumps), the tassels, and the bladder- like head- 

 dress ; except in one case, where a countenance somewhat 

 like that of an ancient Assyrian is surmounted by a turreted 

 hat, reminding one of the tablets of Chaldea and Assyria. A 

 learned friend Aviites : " The figures are not Assyrian or Egyp- 

 tian, nor do they seem to be Indian. They are so unique I 

 have never seen anything like them before." 



Over this draAving and on the left of it are strange hiero- 

 glyphic marks, hitherto undeciphered, or at least uninter- 

 preted. 



The next picture is still stranger. [Fig. 8.] Upon, and 



