ABORIGINAL IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS — ETHERIDGE. 
5 
precious and sacred of the Black’s possessions, and only used in 
the mysteries of the Bora. I think, therefore, that unless Prof. 
Tate’s view can be supported by stronger evidence than mere 
opinion, it must be dismissed, whatever the real significance of 
this circular incised ornament may be. 
Mr. W. W. Proggatt, when in Kimberley some years ago, paid 
considerable attention to the practices of the Aboriginal inhabi- 
tants. lie observes* that during init iation “ men are stationed 
round whirling flat-oval sticks, on which are carved curious 
symbols .” The italics are mine. 
We know that amongst some ancient peoples, and even amongst 
the remnant of some existing, the circle or disc was symbolic of 
the sun. Our acquaintance, however, with the beliefs and esoteric 
mysteries of the. Aborigines is too limited to hazard a suggestion 
that the figures on the “ Bull-roarers ” and stone implements 
bear a similar reference — but it is possible. 
One of Mr. Hardman’s “ Bull roarers ” bears live sets of 
concentric circles, separated by groups of vertical incisions, and 
horizontal marginal ones, as in our PI. i i . , Pigs, 6 and 7. A second 
implement hears irregular concentric semicircles at the apices, 
one on each side, and four sets of quadrangular figures concentric 
within one another. Two of tin' implements now figured are said 
to be from South Australia, but the correspondence in every way 
with Hardman’s Kimberley figures! causes me. to suspect that 
they must in reality come from the same district, or at any rate 
high up in Central Australia. 
A few other cases of circular ornament in Australia may be 
mentioned, such as the circles, and ovals as well, carved on 
the trees surrounding the larger circle of a Bora ground near 
Gloucester, N.S. Wales, J and the numerous figures found by Mr. 
Richard Helms, during the prepress of tin* Elder Exploring 
Expedition from South to West Australia. On a cave-shelter 
pictograph at Areoeillinna Wells, H.A. § are several of these 
concentric circles in red. Mr. Helms says these “are of very 
frequent occurrence, and have undoubtedly a symbolic meaning.” 
Others were met with at Wa Wee Rock Holes in another Cave- 
shelter, and at Mount lllibillie on white pigment. || The most 
complete ones, however, were found in a similar situation near 
“Camp 6,” Evorard Ranges, Here is a circle in red of seven 
rings, a black nucleus, and radial bars passing from the. centre 
# Proc, Linn. Soc. N.S.W., (2), iii., 1888, PI. 2, p, 052. 
+ Pruo. R. Irish Maid. (2), i., 1888, No. 1, t. 2, f. 1-5a, & t. 3. 
t Fraser ; Aborigines of N.S. Wales, 1892, pi. opp. p. 11. 
§ Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., xvi., 1890, Pt. 3, t. 9. 
|| Loc. cit., t. 10 a & 11. 
