215 



base of the triangle, while, at the opposite extremity, there 

 is a strong knob-like finish which was improved upon by the 

 workman chipping it to a shape most convenient for gripping 

 by the hand. The main secondary chipping, to bring up a 

 cutting edge, has been done on the upper-surface, but there has 

 also been complementary chipping done on the lower-surface, 

 and as the chips struck off, in this way, were unusually large, 

 the cutting edge has a wavy outline with a span of about an 

 inch in each curve. The natural face of the above is a bright 

 red, the chipped edge is rather lighter in colour, especially so 

 on the under-side. It was evidently intended to do heavy- 

 work in cutting or splitting. The glaze, on the natural surfaces 

 is greater than that seen on the worked portions. Loc, 

 Macumba (pi. xix.). Dr. Home has figured an example almost 

 identical with this implement [see v., fig. 31]. 



15. Thick-backed, roughly-triangular, single-edged, and 



pointed Implement. -Size, 5f in. x 3f in. The stone is a 

 typical example of Desert Sandstone. Under-side is flat, 

 having been formed by striking off a single flake but without 

 conchoidal curves. Upper-surface shaped by coarse flaking, 

 with an inequilateral ridge and worked to a cutting edge on 

 one side. The point is also trimmed. Butt end, thick, and 

 formed by the natural surface of the stone. Colour, bright 

 red on the under-side, but the flaked upper-surface and 

 worked edge are almost free' from ferruginous colouration. 

 Glaze, very slight. Loc, Macumba (pi. xx.). 



16. Chopper or "Tomahawk." Size, 4 in. x 2f in. 

 Constructed from a very fine-grained form of Desert Sandstone, 

 and is very siliceous. The stone, for the most part of its 

 •surface, shows numerous weathered cavities (resembling 

 vesicular structure), which is. no doubt, the result of imperfect 

 diffusion of the cementing agent under the process of silicifi- 

 cation. The implement is biconvex in transverse section, and 

 without distinction as to sides. The butt end is at right- 

 angles to the longitudinal section and is flat. The opposite 

 end is worked to a smooth, biconvex, crescentic edge, which 

 is continued on one side of the implement to the butt ; and, 

 on the other, is roughly worked, so as to give a uniform out- 

 line to the implement, but was not intended for cutting. The 

 colour is a dark-reddish-brown, with strongly developed 

 patina. Loc, Stuart Creek (pi. xxi.). This is, perhaps, the 

 most interesting specimen in the collection, and, from 

 appearances, may be the oldest. It bears a striking 

 resemblance, in general form, to the ''tomahawks" used by 

 the Aborigines of Australia at the time of European settle- 

 ment, but whilst the latter were almost invariably made from 



