1909.] USED BY AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. 7 



and its depth is one-twentieth of an inch. This specimen was dis- 

 covered on a sand ridge on Maira Plain Station, about fifty miles 

 southeast of Wilcannia, and weighs four pounds and a half. 



A few remarks will now be made respecting the uses of these 

 stones, information on this point being now difificult to obtain for 

 the reasons stated in the beginning of this brochure. " Harry 

 Perry," an old aboriginal of the Darling River, who died at Bourke 

 about a year and a half ago, informed me that although he had never 

 seen the stones in actual use himself, his father and other old men 

 of the tribe had told him that they were employed in ceremonial 

 observances connected with assembling of the tribe at the time the 

 nardoo seed was ripe. The people would be invited to meet at a 

 place adjacent to some low-lying ground which had been moistened 

 by showers during the early spring months, or over which water had 

 flowed in flood time, and which was consequently expected to produce 

 large quantities of the nardoo plant. When the natives from the hin- 

 terland, in whose country there was little or no nardoo, came to the 

 gathering at the appointed time they brought with them articles as 

 presents or for barter with the people who had allowed them the 

 privilege of feasting on the nardoo seed. My native informant be- 

 lieved that the stones in question were used in incantations for pro- 

 ducing an abundant supply of nardoo and other seed bearing plants, 

 as well as for an increase in game and fish. He also said that the 

 messengers who were sent to gather the different portions of the 

 tribe for these festivals, generally carried one of the incised stones 

 to show the purpose of his mission. 



As soon as other duties will permit I shall take pleasure in sub- 

 mitting to this Society a further article for publication, describing 

 the various forms and materials of the interesting aboriginal relics 

 briefly touched upon in the foregoing pages. 



Parramatta, 



New South Wales, October 31, 1908. 



