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I NOTICED, in one of your latest papers, that some of your readers doubted the ability of Australian, or other low savages, to sketch in the manner of the Vezère people, and I made a copy of a few sketches still found in this neighbourhood engraved on rocks. They consist chiefly of fishes, whales, birds, and a few men ; the execution is not so good as when the figures are scratched on blackened bark. I also send you a photograph of a carving in fossil coral from New Guinea. H.M.S. Basilisk has not long ago returned from New Guinea, and brought some splendid weapons, &c.; also one of the Papuan pigs, which they brought for our collection. It is the most intelligent pig I have ever seen, follows me like a dog, and goes up to the very top of the Museum building, which is about 80 feet high. |
