301 



It is found in a cavity on a sandstone ridge overlain by con- 

 glomerate. About 30 bucketfuls of muddy water were obtained, 

 but a good deal of sand had to be removed for the purpose of 

 raising that much, and at last the drainage ceased. At the 

 southern end of the ridge, numbers of caves occur in the escarp- 

 ment of tiie rock, which have frequently given shelter to the 

 natives, wJio left some traces behind in the shape of extinct fires, 

 bones, etc. There were, however, no paintings in these caves. 



1th September (Camp 44, Victoria JJesert). — About 9 o'clock 

 a.m. we came to the waterhole found by Mr. Wells on his flying- 

 trip. There are, in fact, three waterholes in a stratum of con- 

 glomerate, two of which still contained some water, but not 

 nearly 300 gallons as I'eported. It took a great deal of trouble 

 to obtain .'SO bucketsful, whicli only makes about 90 gallons, 

 liither of these holes, if quite full, would scarcely hold more 

 than 400 gallons, but when found they were half full of debris 

 and sticks. There were eleven blacks, some of them won^on and 

 cldldren, at the hole, whom we surprised, as they had not lieard 

 the approach of the soft tread of the camels. As soon, however, 

 as they perceived us they all ran away, screaming dreadfully, 

 particularly the young ones, who could not follow fast enougli to 

 keep up with the men. It took a great deal of coaxing to induce 

 the men to i-eturn. When they ultimately did so, tliey came very 

 cautiously and brought two tins, wliicli they had evidently found 

 ill Well's former camp close by. It seemed as if the\- -were 

 'd'raid of being punished for taking them. All got a present of 

 ■1 bright-colored handkerchief, but this did not allay their 

 timidity sufficiently to enable us to obtain any information from 

 them. They understood the word "kapi," were circumcised, had 

 a tooth knocked out, and had more or less scars on the chest or 

 arm and some had them also on the l)ack. Nearlj? all were 

 more or less painted with ochre and some had symmetrical 

 designs on the front of the body made with pipe-clay. One of 

 them was a cripple, having lost half tlie right foot, which was 

 twisted, the heel being in front. On the left foot also some toes 

 were wanting and besides that his left eye was gone completely. 

 However, he could run very well in spite of Ids defective feet. 

 -The others were of good physique, but rather thin, not to say 

 emaciated. Their height varied considerably ; I ^\•ould say from 

 5 feet 2 inches to nearly 6 feet. One of them (the tallest) was a 

 line built young fellow, who, from the design on his chest and 

 the number of pieces of dingo tails, twisted in his hair, that were 

 drooping over the back of his neck, had the appearance of beino- 

 a chief or a loading person in the tribe. One individual had a 

 number of twists made of a light-colored fur, about 2| inches 

 ong, attached to the hair of the genitals, that liung down like a 



