3G4 R. H. MATHEWS. 



figure, with a longer diameter of 4 inches and a shorter of 

 2-f inches. There are numerous horizontal lines of excep- 

 tional length, as well as some vertical and oblique ones, 

 cut conspicuously into the surface ; the total number being 

 111. All the markings are straight or nearly so, with the 

 exception of two near the middle of the specimen, which 

 have a graceful curve. Found near the southern end of 

 Poopelloe Lake, and about 20 miles south from the Darling 

 River, and weighs 4 lbs. 2 ozs. 



The uses of the stones above described are not fully 

 known, but sufficient evidence has been gathered by me to 

 show that they were employed in magical incantations 

 connected with causing the food supply to increase, making 

 rain, injuring an enemy, and other occult functions. The 

 object of the present article is to promote and encourage 

 inquiry by station owners, managers, and others residing 

 in the north-western districts of New South Wales, where 

 there are still a few old aborigines who could perhaps 

 increase our knowledge respecting these curious native 

 productions. 



For the purpose of enabling the reader to obtain a more 

 realistic conception of what the stones look like, I have 

 added a photograph of six specimens (Plate XV, Fig. 2). The 

 crescent or horn shaped stone, No. 5 in the photograph is 

 identical with No. 3 in the diagrammatic drawing. Another 

 stone, No. 1, also has a crescent form outline, especially 

 on one side. In all of the specimens the shaft is practically 

 round and would give an almost circular section. The 

 material in these specimens is kaolin, sandstone and clay- 

 slate, and each of them has a shallow hollow in the base. 



The six specimens in the photograph are different from 

 those shown in the diagrammatic drawing, with the excep- 

 tion of No. 5 as stated above. On the floor of the photo- 

 graph are six stone hatchets of different sizes, three of 



