Fig. 47. Crossed boomerangs, the symbolic representation of a fight.
Many of the conventional patterns are not so apparent as the few just mentioned. Let us take, for instance, the “Ladjia” or Yam Tjuringa pattern of the Arunndta. Only the initiated would be able to recognize in a number of groups of small, concentric circles, regularly placed at the corners of rectangular figures, as the stems of the yam plant, and a system of parallel lines connecting the circles both straight and diagonally as the roots. Vide [Fig. 34].
Tracks of animal, bird, and man are conspicuous among the designs, generally, whether they be true copies from Nature upon the walls of a cave, more or less modified gravures upon weapons, or conventional patterns incised upon a message stick. A dog track is represented by a larger dot, suggesting the imprint of the ball of the paw, to which are attached four smaller dots, which lie in a row in close proximity to the former; the smaller dots stand for the impressions of the claws ([Fig. 35]).
A kangaroo track shows the two long parallel median impressions, with a lateral at an acute angle to the former at either side. The same figure is repeated a short distance away from the one described, and in a straight line with it. The same design on a smaller scale denotes a wallaby track. Occasionally the lateral lines are dispensed with ([Fig. 36]).
Small oblong dots drawn in pair at equal distances from each other indicate the hopping of a rabbit ([Fig. 37]).
The characteristic broad arrow-like footprint of an emu has already been referred to; the smaller variety of the same design implies that a wild turkey is meant. When a number of birds are to be represented collectively, the archetype is developed into a continuous pattern by linking one track up with another into a chain ([Fig. 38]).
Fig. 48. Witchedy grub Tjuringa, Arunndta tribe (× 3/10). Tracing.
When attention is to be drawn to the fact that the birds are laying, or sitting on eggs, a number of small circles are drawn about the track ([Fig. 39]).
A lizard track is indicated by drawing a number of dots, equally spaced along a straight line, and on alternate sides of it. The dots are the claw impressions, the line the trail left by the tail ([Fig. 40]).