LOPE DE VEGA. 



413 



found here by Governor Phillip, we have to assume that 

 one of the lowest types of humanity had reached a metal 

 smelting age and then suddenly relapsed into barbarism ; 

 or, that our blacks were the invaders and had swept away 

 an effete civilization, both of which suppositions are un- 

 tenable. New South Wales does not know the historical 

 value of the splendid work of W. D. Campbell, who por- 

 trayed so many rock carvings ; and it is felt that interest 

 in the old times is still keen enough to drag the truth from 

 the pages of this great stone book. 



There are a number of notches in the rocks; they are 

 from 6 to 9 inches long, with a V-shaped cross section, 

 and have been produced by rubbing the blunt end of metal 

 tools so as to bring them again to a sharp point. Scrapings 

 from ten of these grooves were taken to Mr. William M. 

 Hamlet our Government Analyst, who sought for any 

 trace of copper that I thought might possibly still remain 

 in the grooves. Mr. Hamlet found no trace of copper, and 

 pointed out that any trace left by the original worker 

 would be converted into carbonate and chloride (from the 

 sea air) and that these compounds would in turn be washed 

 out by countless rains. 



A consideration of the lay of the land at Woollahra 

 Point made it plain that it was very favorable for defence 

 against unknown dangers. The level plateau has had a 

 few inches of soil spread over it since Governor Phillip's 

 time, and has been sodded with couch grass. There is no 

 high land from which the rain could have washed this soil 

 down. This thin covering has been worn off at several 

 places, showing carvings that indicate the probability that 

 much more is hidden. Coming further S.W. we see an 

 irregular hollow that must have been a feature of the Point 

 when our first fleet arrived, and held water as it has been 

 cemented since. Turning west there are more rocks, 



