FURTHER NOTES ON CEREMONIAL STONES, 

 AUSTRALIA 



By R. H. MATHEWS. 



{Read October i, 1909.) 



During the latter part of 1908 I submitted an article on the 

 above subject, accompanied by diagrammatic drawings showing 

 front and side views of several specimens.^ Since that time I have 

 obtained a photograph of a number of similar stones in the posses- 

 sion of Mr. A. G. Johnston, of Murtie Station, Darling River, New 

 South Wales. I have thought that the publication of this photo- 

 graph will add to the value of what has already been written and 

 encourage further investigation in this important subject. 



In explanation of the photograph, Fig. i, the specimens are con- 

 tained in a cabinet in which there are three shelves. I have ruled 

 lines across the face of the photograph corresponding to the bases 

 of these shelves, the picture being thus divided into three partitions, 

 marked A, B and C, for the purpose of explaining its contents. 



Partition A, or the lower shelf, contains thirty-two ceremonial 

 stones, of various lengths and proportions, which the reader will 

 readily recognize from a perusal of the drawings in my former 

 article on the subject. The four large flat, ovate stones at the back 

 of the shelf, are lower millstones, used for grinding grass seed. 

 There are also three upper millstones, which are much smaller, 

 used for pounding and grinding the seed upon the larger lower 

 stone. The upper millstones, as well as four stone hatchets, are 

 not distinguishable without the aid of numerals. I have not thought 

 it advisable to number any of the objects, lest the picture should be 

 overcrowded and defaced. In the middle of the shelf, near the top, 

 is a boomerang. 



Partition B, or the middle shelf, has fourteen more ceremonial 

 stones, four lower millstones, one upper millstone, four stone 



* Prog. Amejr. Phil. Soc, Vol. XLVIIL, p. 313. 



460 



