404 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



their curious antics or strut grotesquely along. To the right of the 

 engraving are three superposed, broadly triangular chevron-like lines. 



Fig. 1 of Plate XIII. is that of an eland, which I have selected 

 among others because of the very effective appearance obtained 

 by retaining for the central part of the body the original smooth 

 surface of the rock, and thus helping to bring out the chipped 

 part more clearly. 



But next to, and often intermingled with, these well-finished 

 engravings are some which contrast singularly with the others 

 in their lack of artistic merit, or even crudeness. Thus Figs. 6, 

 8, and 10 of Plate X., although found with the series in Plates 

 VIII. and XIV., are not of equal merit ; Fig. 18 of Plate XII. 

 which was figured on the same boulder as Fig. 7 of Plate X. 

 is made quite ludicrous by contrast. The tracings (Fig. 1 of Plate 

 XV.) are certainly far from being artistic. I may say that in this 

 case the latter scene stood by itself. 



Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17 of Plate XI. do not betray much skill, and are 

 of the same type of workmanship as the singular design that sur- 

 mounts Fig. 10 of Plate X. Starred designs are not uncommon. 

 I have seen them from the banks of the Orange and of the Vaal 

 Elvers; and they are met with on the plains of Kimberley and of 

 Bechuanaland." Eough check-boards made by lines intersecting 

 each other are also known. Hiibner, speaking of a group of these 

 sculptures in the Potchefstroom District (Zeitsch. f. Ethnol., 1871), 

 says, " Besides these easily recognisable figures there are, however, 

 many others, which are difficult to explain. I may merely mention 

 one in which 6 vertical stripes, or succession of holes, were cut at 

 right angles by 4 or 5 similar lines ; another, where 12 rows of 

 3 holes are situated under each other, and which cannot possibly 

 be considered as alphabetic signs ; very common are circles of 

 100 mm. long from which 18 radial strokes, about 100 mm. long 

 emanate, so that the whole might be a representation of the sun." 

 Fig. 17 of Plate XL represents a foot the small size of which 

 suggests the possibility of the etching having been made from 

 a wet imprint. 



The disparity of skill and technique evinced by the illustrations 

 given in this paper can be explained by the assumption borne by 



* In certain Bushmen paintings stars and check-boards do also figure. In the 

 tracing of one such picture in the South African Museum is the reproduction in 

 red ochre of a very small, almost delicate human hand, with the digits spread out. 

 This picture was plainly produced by the impression on the surface of the rock of 

 the painter's hand covered with red pigment. A similar impression, but the hand 

 is white on a red ochre background, occurs in the very ancient cave of Castello, 

 vide " Portugalia," vol. ii., fasc. 2. ? 1904. 



