PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



HELD AT PHILADELPHIA 

 FOR PROMOTING USEFUL KNOWLEDGE 



Vol. XLVIII January-April, 1909 No. 191. 



CEREMONIAL STONES USED BY THE AUSTRALIAN 



ABORIGINES. 



By R. H. MATHEWS. 

 (Read January i, iQog.) 



The following is a short description of some remarkable stones 

 used by the aborigines in certain areas scattered over the north- 

 western portion of New South Wales, which may be approximated 

 roughly as lying north of 34 degrees south latitude and west of 148 

 degrees east longitude. The objects referred to have been observed 

 by squatters and other residents of the bush in different places for 

 many years past, but like most other matters connected with the 

 aborigines, very little attention has been paid to them. They are 

 occasionally found lying on the surface of the ground, or only 

 partially exposed, on the flanks of sand-ridges, which may have 

 been either old camps of the natives or places of their ceremonial 

 gatherings. They have also been discovered below the surface, 

 having probably been overlaid by drifting sand or soil, or were per- 

 haps purposely hidden when not in use. 



The scattered remnants of the tribes in the region indicated are 

 all more or less civilized at the present time and have ceased to use 

 these stones in their ceremonies, owing to the occupation of the 

 district by Europeans for upwards of half a century. For this 

 reason it is especially important that all available information should 



