265 



las been 



meaning of 



The best clumces of elucidating these 



the 

 'task 



incomprehensible : but that they were not executed simply for 

 idle sport becomes more evident the longer one looks upon them. 

 They probably possess a symbolic meaning, which I confess my- 

 self unable to elucidate. I must, however, here express regret 

 tliat in former times, when on account of the greater number of 

 natives, the opportunities for observation were _ vastly more 

 promising than they are now, so little information 

 acquired as to the ideas of the aborigines, and the 

 their peculiar markings, 



S3-mbols are now, alas, almost hopelessly lost, because wherevei 

 similar peculiar markings are met witli in other parts of Aus- 

 tralia which might perhaps furnish a key to tlie rest, nobody is 

 left to translate them. The few living remnants of the numerous 

 decayed tribes have either entirely lost all knowledge of the 

 meaning of these markings or have become, through contact with 

 the white population, so addicted to lying that their evidence is 

 entirely untrustworthy. 



The preservation and correct reproduction of everything at 

 present obtainable may yet do something towards solvinr 

 question, Whence the aborigines of Australia ? But this 

 would be incomparably lightened if the true significance of these 

 tokens could be obtained from the authors themselves. Correct 

 information about these matters and a comprehensive knowdedge 

 of the language, together with an accurate understanding (if 

 their traditions and mythology, are tte most promising factors in 

 the solution of this problem, to elucidate which ought to be con- 

 sidered not only in the light of a higlily interesting anthro- 

 pological research, but also a duty we owe to the previous owners 

 of this continent, as well as to our descendants. 



Close to Camp 4 some paintings existed on the face of an over- 

 hanging rock, but I have not noted any particulars about them. 

 T was promised that they should be copied during my five days' 

 absence from camp, but it was neglected. On the diontic dyke 

 tliat crests the ridge of the granitic range lying about two miles 

 to the south, T noticed two rings, about eight to ten inches in 

 diameter, the outlines of which were about a quarter of an inch 

 wide chipped or scratched on the flat face of a block of this hard 

 rock.' On the dioritic dyke at the top of Sawback Hill two - 

 three marks like a " broad arrow " were observed to have '^ 

 worked into tlie rock. These I have not seen, but they 

 probably intended to represent emu-tracks. 



Plate 13. 

 " About five miles s.-w. from Camp 6, at the first rocky hill, 

 paintings were noticed on a rock-shelter facing us as we came 

 along. ' I made a hurried sketch of them. They are done with 



or 

 been 

 were 



