261 



fore describiiig them, however, in detail, T reproduce the notes 

 made on the spot at the time of our visit. 



"Near these wells, which were sunk by the Water Conserva- 

 tion Department of South Australia a few years back, are two 

 rock shelters, known to contain paintings by aboriginals. Coming 

 from the east, the low sandstone range near the wells runs 

 almost nortli and south, and is broken by a narrow gap scarcely 

 moi'e than a chain wide. On the left side of this gap, facing 

 towards the north-east, these two rock shelters are situated ; 

 the one is five paces deep, and double that in length, and the 

 other only about one-third of these dimensions. The larger has 

 two openings, having a natural pillar nearly in the centre of its 

 face. Tt is well arched, and high enougli to enable a man to 

 stand upright in the greater part of it. In this aive most of the 

 paintings are found, in fact the roof, as well as the sides, are 

 more or less covered with them, and in many cases they overlap 

 one another. Several broken native grinding stones indicate 

 that this place has been a favorite spot to grind up the various 

 pigments, and the many daubs upon the walls leave the im- 

 pression that the effect of tiie colors has been tried upon them 

 after their preparation. <3ne is vividly reminded of the rear 

 parts of a painter's workshop, where all the paints are tried on 

 the back of the doors and the walls, and the brushes are cleaned 

 of the paint after work. 



" The designs are undoubtedly of diti'erent age, and in many 

 instances, particularly on the roof, whicli is nearly black, are 

 obliterated by smoke. No doubt during wet weather these shel- 

 ters have often been inhabited , by natives, indications of whose 

 visits are left behind in tlie shape of ashes and cinders, and a 

 great number of quondong stones strewn over the floor. 



" I have made copies of the oest-preserved and most interest- 

 ing designs, many of which occur repeatedly. Sucli an enormous 

 number of birds's tracks are everywhei'e represented, that it 

 almost seems as if this design has been the one to try the brush 

 upon first. The copies are kept, as near as possible, in propor- 

 tion to one another, and are reduced to about one-twelfth to one- 

 sixteenth of their natural size. The colors p^re white and dull 

 red, produced probably by pipeclay and ochre. — ArcoeilHnna 

 Wells, 2oth 3£ay, 1891." 



Plate 9. 



The kangaroo and bird-tracks, of the latter mostly tliose of the 

 bustard and one of an emu, are easily recognisable ; and so are 

 the snakes, one with a dilated head near the left upper corner 

 and the other without a head near the lower corner on the same 

 side. Another representation to the right of the upper snake is 

 undoubtedly meant for a fringed apron, as is worn by some tribes 



