60 



ROCK DRAWINGS IN QUEENSLAND. 



that their own tattoo mark is that with which they distinguish per- 

 sonal property. Now this custom is alluded to by Collins (Op. Cit. 

 1804, page 377), who writes "in ornamenting their weapons and 

 instruments each tribe used some peculiar form by which it was 

 known to what part of the country they belonged." Brough 

 Smith has also written in the same strain, and figures several 

 marks found on boomerangs from Queensland. 



These " Mombarai " or distinguishing tattoo marks, these 

 signs of ownership on their personal property, may, I think, be 

 regarded, with those blacks who made use of them, as conventional 

 symbols for the totems which may be any natural object, especi- 

 ally when one bearb in mind the purpose which pictorial represen- 

 tations or symbolical representation of totems are made to serve 

 amongst races other than the Australians, where toteism 

 exists. As for instance, amongst the North American 

 Indians, where as Max Miiller expresses it (Chips from a 

 German Workshop, vol. i, p. 318). — "Every warrior has his 

 crest which is called his totem, and it is painted on his 

 tombstone," a subject which is fully entertained in Mallery's 

 " Sign Language amongst North American Indians," (Smithsonian 

 Institute, Bureau of Ethnology) where the very instance which Max 

 Miiller introduces as a typical illustration of his remark appears 

 to form the subject of a figure. 



This connection between tattoo marks (' totem ' signs where 

 *' toteism " exists) distinguishing marks for personal property, and 

 stone engravings is a very interesting one, especially for those 

 who endeavour to find, in this practice of tattooing, the origin of 

 the use of graved or written symbols. Peschel in writing of the 

 Berbers of Algeria, remarks : " In the hieroglyphic inscriptions 

 these people bear the name of ' Temhu,' and are recognisable on 

 the Egyptian monuments by tatoo marks in the shape of a cross, 

 which are said to be still customary among the Kabyl (Fr. Berber) 

 women. — (" Races of Man," p. 482). 



On the ground then that we are dealing with signs which 

 represent totems, I am of opinion that these rock engravings, 

 under consideration, are conventional symbols for the totems of 

 several tribes or sub-tribes. These they therefore serve to enum- 

 erate, or they may express numerous objects which these signs for 

 totems are known to embrace. In either alternative they 

 may be ideographic expressions of events, — for the ideas of 

 persons, and so tribes, personal or tribal property, and even 

 districts have been expressed by the symbols denoting the 

 totems of the persons. — {cf, Herbert Spencer "Essays, etc.," 

 vol. iii. 2nd Ed. " On the origin of animal worship ; " also, 



