1188 Rock Inscriptions in Brazil. [ December, 
of the rock about two and one-half feet to where a portion of the 
block has split off from the lower left corner, probably carry- 
ing away part of the inscription. It is impossible to determine 
the exact number of these points, for some of them, especially 
those next the top, have become very indistinct through the 
weathering of the face of the rock. The inscriptions appear to 
have been made by pecking with stone implements, and in the 
case of the asterisk the stone was rubbed up and down the line 
until the furrows were well polished. After being ground out 
these points and lines were painted, the color now having a dull 
red or brown appearance. 
The next place visited was Pedra Pintada (painted stone) which 
is located upon a stream (during the rainy season) taking its 
name from the marked stones—Rio da Pedra Pintada! It is said 
to be ten leagues from Aguas Bellas, twelve from Garanhuns and 
nine from Papacaga. There are here about forty designs engraved, 
and part of them both engraved and painted upon the large 
blocks of gneiss on the banks, and upon the flat smooth rock in 
the dry bed of the stream. There is a cascade about twenty-five 
feet high just here, and at the foot of it a pot-hole, now filled up, 
which is about fifteen feet wide by as many deep, and to the pres 
ence of which these inscriptions are possibly due, as I shall show. 
The forms of the inscriptions are shown in the figures, which are 
drawn to scale, and I need not describe them in detail. Figs. % 
6, c, d, e, f,r and sare engraved on the bed rock of the stream 
above the cascade. These are not painted, and if they ever were, 
the paint has been washed off by the stream charged with san 
and gravel. Many of these are becoming indistinct, some a 
them have almost entirely disappeared, while others have a 
o 
less disappeared altogether. The concentric chipping 
rock, so common in the tropics, has also removed some of the 10- 
scriptions both in the bed of the stream and upon the banks. 
The engraving appears to have been done like that at om 
Circada, by pecking and grinding with stones having thin oF 
edges. After being thus polished these marks were painted, the 
color now showing as a dull red or brown. In some ae, 
points and lines are combined as is shown in ¢ and £- The os 
into the 
betwee? 
* Lower down this stream is called Riacho dos dois Riachos, and font 
Ipanema at Sant’ Anna, which enters the Sao Francisco about midway 
Traipa and Pao d’Assucar, 
