Zbc IRocfc figures of tbe flDaritime Hlpa. 
By Cedric Bucknall, Mus. Bac. , Oxon. 
THERE are in various parts of the world figures engraved on 
the smooth surface of rocks, of whose age and authorship 
little is known. These are mostly representations of animals, and 
are formed either of dots made by repeated blows with some instru- 
ment or of incised lines. 
Of the first method there is a good example in the British 
Museum, on a piece of rock brought, I believe, from South Africa ; 
this is a well-drawn figure of an animal, w T ith the body sculptured 
all over. 
Some of the South African figures, engraved by the Bushmen on 
very hard rocks, are deeply corroded by weathering, and are cal- 
culated to be 2000 years old. 
In Upper Egypt there are incised figures of animals, which, from 
long exposure to the weather, are covered with a brownish coating 
like that of the original rock. Inscriptions cut in the same rock, 
known to be 5000 years old, still look quite fresh. 
It is not generally known, however, that within two days 
journey from England there is a district in which rock engravings 
abound, and which, for an area of equal size, is perhaps unequalled 
in interest in the w'hole world. 
This district is at the head of four valleys directly under the 
summit of Monte Bego, one of the highest mountains of the Italian 
Maritime Alps, and covered with snow for a great part of the year. 
Monte Bego, with another conspicuous summit, that of the Gran 
Capelet, is situated in the district of Tenda, not far from the 
picturesque old town of that name. These mountains are near 
the French frontier, and are visible to the traveller on the 
Mediterranean coast, from which they are little more than twenty 
miles distant in a direct line. From Ventimiglia a road, which 
affords a continual series of magnificent views of mountain, gorge, 
and river, leads up the valley of the Roya to San Dalmazzo di 
Tenda, the village nearest to the valleys containing the rock 
engravings, the distance from Ventimiglia being about twenty- 
seven miles. San Dalmazzo may also be reached from the north 
by way of Tenda. 
From this village a road, which soon becomes a mule-track, leads 
towards the west, and, after about two-and-a-half hours walking, 
La Miniera di Tenda is reached. From this point several routes 
lead to the valleys under Monte Bego. 
The Vallone delle Meraviglie — the Valley of Wonders — with 
several lakes called the Laghi delle Meraviglie, is reached by 
continuing westwards past the Val Valauretta. Cultivation now 
ceases, and the valley known as the Val d'Inferno, after a while 
opens out into a wide and desolate region covered with rocks. 
Here, about six hours walk from San Dalmazzo, the first rock 
figures are found. If, instead of following this route, the traveller 
turns to the north from La Miniera into Val Casterino, he reaches 
