Part 2 Taphoglyphs (Inhumation, "Carved Trees," Or Grave Indicators)
11 PAR'f H. TAPlIOGLYPHS (INHUMATION, "CARVED TREES," OR GP"AVE-INDICATORS). " In antiquity at least it is certain that trees were frequently planted around the barrows of the dead, and that leafy branches formed part of the funeral cerem.onies." 33 If wc substitute the words "caryed" or "incised" for planted, and "graves" for" barrows," the above quotation is just as applicable to certain communities of the Australian aborigines as it is to ancient and bygone lleoples. There is this difference hetween these taphoglyphs or burial-trees and the teleteglyphs, or Bora-trees, as Mr. Milne reminds me. The carvings on the first were invariably deeper, and evidently intended to be permanent, as compared with the average glyphs on the second. 1. OBJECT OF THE TAPHOGLYPHS. 1'hc precise significance attached to these incised tree-boles by the aborigines is now difficlllt .to conceive with certainty, but I think we may conclude Dr. John Fraser was correct in saying that in the main they were intended to indicate an interment, "presumedly acting the part of a tombstone."" Indeed, Mr. T. lIonery saict'" the Kamilaroi tribes cut figures on the trees round the graves as memorials of the dead. Not only were these carved boles memorials of the dead, but there appears to be fairly conclusive evidence that it was only notabilities who were so honoured at their demise, such as celebrated warriors, prominent headmen, and powerful wizards or " doctors." Ordinary tribesmen, women, and children were, presumably, without the pale."" From this it may be ll~ Grant Allen. 1I~ Fl'il~er-"Aborigines of New &uth \Yales, 1l_'World's Colllmbian Expos., Chicago (]S93), lS9"2, p.
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