Page:Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales.djvu/27

Rh In the annexed plate Fig. 1 represents a man 15 ft. 2 in. tall. Fig. 2 is a woman 11 ft. 3 in. tall, with an abnormally long body and short legs like Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are tolerable representations of kangaroos—the latter having a shield attached to his hind leg. Fig 5 represents the incomplete drawing of a man 16 feet tall. Fig 6 is an immense fish 33 ft. 10 in. long, and 21 ft. 9 in. from tip to tip of the opposite fins. Fig. 7 is a peculiar drawing of a fish, and Fig. 8 is a man somewhat less than life-size. Remembering that the aboriginal sculptors had only a piece of sharp stone with which to carve these colossal figures on the hard rock, it can be readily understood that the task necessitated immense labour, and occupied a considerable time.

The large rock on which Fig. 1 is carved is situated about half a mile on the eastern side of the main road from Wiseman's Ferry towards Parramatta, and about 4 miles from the former place, in the parish of Frederick. Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 8 are all on one rock on a bridle-path or trail leading from Mangrove Creek to Hawkesbury River, in the parish of Spencer. Fig. 3 is cut on a flat rock on the old road from Sydney to Peat's Ferry, about 4 miles from the railway station at Hawkesbury River, in the parish of Cowan. Fig. 6 is found on a large rock on the western side of Bantry Bay, in the parish of Manly Cove. Fig. 7 is carved on a mass of rock a few chains on the eastern side of the Peat's Ferry road, about half or three-quarters of a mile northerly from Fig. 3.