fragments of bones variously grooved, cut, or carved, and a little ball of bone half perforated. This puzzled me for long time, until an old Aleut informed me that, in his boyhood, he had seen such things used as buttons, to be put on the end of a bone-lance or arrow, when practising at a mark, in order that the point might not become blunted, or injured. None of these articles exhibited any particular skill in carving or any ornamental patterns except of straight lines. A number of chipped flints, which had evidently been used in striking fire were also found.

side in an horizontal plane facing the south-east. Two others were afterwards discovered in an exactly similar position. They were about three feet from the surface but not so far from the inner wall of the house, one was the skeleton of a woman. A few rough flat stones were placed around and under them, but no article of use or ornament were with the skeletons. It is a matter of record that the ancient Aleuts, when a person died in one of their houses, built up the body in the compartment which had belonged to the person when living, and continued to occupy the remainder of the yourt as usual. The position in which these skeletons were Further explorations made during the ensuing found, indicates that such was the manner in which winter and spring, revealed the sites of seven they had been interred. It is still a common prac- villages. On Omaknak Island alone, of which but tice among tribes of the Ovarian stock, to tie up one or two are known, even by tradition. Excavathe body of a dead person in the manner just tions in one or two of these places revealed similar described. Further digging showed that a great implements to those already described, others might part of the mound was composed of materials doubtless have turned up, but my means and time foreign to the locality. These principally consisted were too limited to permit very extensive excavaof bones of cetaceous, fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) tions. sea lion (Eumetopias Skelleri) and sea birds, prin

In certain places at the foot of overhanging cliffs cipally ducks and gulls or petrels. There were a wall had been built up until the rock above was also large accumulations of the shells of edible reached, and outside a bank of earth covered this mollusks, among the most conspicuous of which wall. In the space inside the debris had then been were the common mussle (mytilus edulis), Saxidonius squealidus, Dest. Tapes staminea, com. and modiola modiolus L. All the above are still living in these seas, most of them are still found in Captain's Bay, and form a portion of the food of the existing native population. The sea lion and walrus are no longer found in Unalaska, and the fur seal but rarely. That they must have been very abundant at one time is evident from the great accumulation of their bones in this single mound, which was literally composed of such debris, arranged in layers separated by vegetable moulds. From these materials we picked out a number of articles of interest.

removed, and in this space, on a layer of small
sticks of driftwood, bodies had been laid, one
above the other. In one case I found six skeletons,
one above the other, separated only by the layers
of sticks and a piece of grass matting similar to that
still manufactured by the natives of Unalaska.
Here again I noticed the remarkable absence of
any utensils or articles of apparel or ornament.
Only one bone arrow-head, with a piece of its shaft
and a fragment of a wooden mask, were found
during the examination of some four or five of these
caves, crammed with remains of skeletons.
extremity of one cave furthest from the entrance,
were found the skeleton of a woman, and close to
it the remains of an infant. The floor consisted of
about six inches of black mould, covering the usual
shingle of the beaches. A number of angular frag-
ments of rock had fallen from above. No remains
of animals were found here, and if there had been
any wooden articles, they had all rotted away.

These were principally stone lamps, like those previously described, of various sizes, different in form and nicety of finish, to some extent. Besides these there were also many large, rough stones, either naturally or artificially hollowed out on one side, which had been subjected to the action of fire, and were probably the pavement or hearth Near one of the skeletons was found, heaped upon which fire had been built for culinary purposes. together, a number of stone knives, a bone awl, and Several rough pieces of cetecean bone were found two fragments, one of pumice and the other of fine brought to a sharp, square edge at one end, and sandstone, with their edges and surfaces smoothed formerly in use for dressing skins. A few stone and squared evidently for the purpose of dressing knives were found, all of the native pattern, i.e., down the asperities of skins to be used for clothing. shaped like the chopping-knife. These were of a The most interesting collection was found near the fine, dark slate-stone, which must have been brought skeleton of the woman, and consisted of two bone from a locality nearer to the mainland of America, labrets shaped like those now in use among the as it is not found in Unalaska, or the islands west Thlinkets and Botocudos. These are doubtless of it as far as known. Also a large part of a flat very ancient, as all traces of the usage have long spoon of carved bone, with a grooved handle, since passed away. There were besides, a lot of several awls, usually made from the wing-bones of needles made of the wing-bones of birds, a needle birds, bone arrow-heads of Esquimaux pattern, case made of the humeras of some large bird, closed

at each end by a wooden stopper, bone awls, stone tains the account of the Flood, and therefore the knives, a whetstone of fine grained sand rock, and a little case of birch bark containing plumbago. Neither the birch, the sandstone, nor the black slate of which the knives were made, nor the plumbago, exist on the island of Unalaska.

most interesting to us, opens with a speech of this Izdubar, who asks one Sisit how he became immortal, and Sisit replies, relating the story of the Flood, and assigning his own piety as the cause of his translation amongst the immortals. Then follows the Assyrian account of that great event in broken and disjointed sentences, and in probably rhythmical style, of which we can now say no more than that it bears in its leading features a striking resemblance to the Biblical accounts-the names of the principal actors being quite different. As a specimen of the style, we take the following extract. The gods speak :-" Suripthee: I will destroy the sinners and life; cause to go in the seed of life all of it to preserve them: the ship which thou shalt make cubits shall be the measure of its length; cubits the amount of its breadth and height; into the deep launch it;" and so on. This ship was stopped by the mountain Nizir, and birds were sent forth to ascertain whether the flood had abated, though in a disserent order from that of Bible History.

As proved by other researches on the islands of Kadiac and Unga, the early Aleuts were accustomed to preserve the remains of their more eminent dead by removing the viscera, stuffing the body with dry grass and drying it. This was placed in some dry cave, dressed as in life, ornamented with gay apparel, and covered with wooden carvings, the most remarkable of which were masks of large size, painted of different colours and ornamented with pakite, son of Ubaratutu, make a great ship for feathers, tufts of hair, and bristles from the deer. A very great variety of other carvings were also placed in these caves, and sometimes the bodies, placed in natural attitudes, were covered entirely with carved wooden armour, or placed in a minature canoe or bidarka, armed as if hunting, or holding a paddle. Women were represented as if sewing, dressing skins, or nursing their infants. Old men as if beating their drums, as they do during the winter dances in Esquimaux villages to this day.

But few of these remains exist in a well preserved condition, yet the extent of the practice may be understood from the fact that over thirty different masks, all more or less mutilated, were found in one cave at Unga. Any notes in regard to them, possess a certain interest, and may be worthy of preservation, as before many years have gone by, even the traces of these by-gone customs will have entirely disappeared.

Mr. Smith then abbreviated the account of the Flood as related in the Bible and Berosus, and contrasted the three. The description of the Flood in the Inscription was very vivid. It was so terrible that the gods, fearing it, ascended to the Heaven of Anu, that was the highest heaven, the destruction of the human race is recorded, the corpses of the wicked are said to have floated on the surface of the waters, and the ravens sent out from the ark are described as feeding on the bodies. With regard to the duration of the Deluge, there is a great difference between the Bible and the cuneiform inscription. The Greek account of Berosus was silent on this point. The conclusion to which Mr. Smith came was that the events related in the Bible and the Inscription were the same, and occurred in the same order, but the minor diffeIt appears that of the Inscription describing the rences in the details showed that the Inscription Flood there are fragments of three copies, con- embodied a distinct and independent tradition. In taining duplicate texts, and that they date about spite of a striking similarity in style, the two narra660 years before the Christian era. These, how- tives belonged to totally distinct peoples-one to ever, are but copies of a text of a much more an inland, the other to a seafaring people. In conancient date, which could not be placed later than clusion, the writer pointed out the importance of the 17th century before the Christian era. It prothese cuneiform tablets, and the light they were fessed to belong to the time of a monarch whose calculated to shed on questions that were of the name Mr. Smith was unable to read phonetically, deepest interest to humanity.

CHALDEAN ACCOUNT OF THE DELUGE. [Being the substance of a paper read before the Biblical Archaeological Society, on December 3rd, by Mr. George Smith, of the British Museum.]

but whom he provisionally called Izdubar. The

exploits of this Izdubar reminded the writer of

those of the Grecian Hercules, and on the suppo- MONUMENT TO ROBERT BURNS.-Some time ago sition that the present version of Berosus was it was proposed in Glasgow to raise a fund by correct as to dates, Izdubar might be placed about means of shilling subscriptions, for the erection of a 30,000 years before the Christian era. The early monument in memory of Robert Burns. The adventures of this Izdubar are related, and very amount now received in shillings amounts to strange they are. The 11th tablet, which con- £1,022 125.

Divers Notes.

OLD YORKSHIRE CUSTOMS.-RUSH-BEARING.

ford says, "Arranging this sheet was exclusively the work of girls and women; and in proportion as it was happily designed and fitly put together or otherWe are told that these rush-bearings were not always wise, was there praise or disparagement meted out conducted in the quietest manner, for Ralph by the public; a point on which they would not be The sheet was a piece of very Thoresby, the antiquary of Leeds, writing 1709, in a little sensitive. his "Diary," on the 13th June, says, "Avoided Roth-white linen, generally a good bed-sheet; and on it well, on account of the rush-bearing there." We were arranged pretty rosettes, and quaint compartmust infer they were kept up in a riotous manner. ments and borderings of all colours and hues which The Secretary of the Yorkshire Archæological and either paper, tinsel, ribands, or natural flowers could Topographical Society informs me that on the second supply. In these compartments were arranged Sunday in August a feast was held in Brighouse silver watches, trays, spoons, sugar-tongs, teapots, called the rush-bearing, and that ten years ago a quart tankards, drinking-cups, or other fitting articles rush-cart was brought round. The rushes were tied of ornament and value; and the more numerous in neat bundles, and piled into a pyramid, having and precious the articles were the greater was the the root-ends of the rushes to the outside, and here deference that party which displayed them expected and there tufts of rushes tastefully introduced to from the wondering crowd." Musicians went round relieve the otherwise plain surface; and the whole with the cart and the morris-dancers, and would prebeing decked with ribbons, or attended with morris- cede the cart with banners and garlands. The following dancers, made it quite an interesting and pleasing Sunday the banners and garlands would be hung ceremony. I am not aware of any place in York-up in the church. This custom was once kept up shire where the rush-cart is brought round, although in every village in our county, and now all vestiges several feasts still retain the name. The custom of of it are swept away, save its name.

[I cut the above from a recent number of the Yorkshire Magazine, and send it for preservation in LONG AGO.]

Windsor-terrace, Hull.

W. A.

bringing round the rush-cart attended with morrisdancers still lingers in some parts of Lancashire, the Lake District, and in the Peak of Derbyshire. Rhodes, in his "Peak Scenery," gives a very interresting account of the custom as he saw it enacted THE HISTORY OF BEER AND BREWERS.-I at Glossop. The best account of this ancient cere-read somewhere lately a complaint that we had mony is given in a graphic and pleasing manner by no history of banking and bankers. I bemoan the late and lamented Samuel Bamford, father of the the want of a somewhat kindred book (for the present rural bards of the county of the "red rose," country brewer is not unfrequently the banker in his little book giving the customs as enacted in also)—a History of Beer and Brewers. To any his native village at the commencement of this cen- enterprising book-maker, in search of a start, I tury, under the title of "Early Days;" a book that beg to offer the following contributions:cannot be too highly valued by lovers of the sports, OLD ENGLISH BREWERIES.-It is now 236 years customs, and domestic life of our fore-elders. Mr. Bamford tells us "all true church-goers were duly ago that the first patent was taken out to secure the apprised of the wake, as its date was cried by the advantages accruing to a contrivance for an imbellman in the churchyard whilst the congregation proved mode of brewing. Sea-coal had just begun were leaving the church, on three Sunday afternoons previous to its being held." A brother rural Lancashire bard, Elijah Ridings, in his poem, a rather long one, entitled "The Village Festival," tells us

to

"Behold the rush-cart, and the throng
Of lads as lasses pass along!
Now watch the nimble morris-dancers,
Those blithe, fantastic antic prancers,
Bedecked with gaudiest profusion
Of ribbons in a gay

to come into use, and the improvement consisted of its adoption and the manner of its adoption. We read in the list of patents, against the date 1635, July 23" Nicholas Halse. Making kilns for drying malt and hops with sea-coal, turf, or other fuel, without touching smoke; capable also of being used for cooking, drying, and starching at one time with one fire, and thereby lessening the consumption of wood and straw." In the following year Sir W. Bromicker took out a patent for drawing double the quantity of aqua vitae from a given quantity of liquor and more strong water from malt than had been done. A year afterwards Thomas, Earl of Berks, patented a kiln for drying malt, The poet goes on to tell us how the nut-brown ale grain, and hops. It was a time when country would be brought round and given to the morris- gentlemen and their dames took great delight in dancers. An allusion is made to the silver-plate; what were called "country contentments." these consisted of articles of value lent to adorn days of the old flockings to the king's standard, to the rush-cart, and suspended on a sheet. Mr. Bam- march against France or Scotland, were over; the

confusion

Of brilliant colours, richest dyes,

Like wings of moths and butterflies."

The

possession of town houses was the happiness only of those attached to the State or the Court; hence the worthies of those days seem to have made their own homes into centres of interest.-The Builder. DRINKS BREWED IN LONDON A CENTURY AND A-HALF AGO. From the records of the Brewers' Company, we find that in the year 1720 (7 George I.) there were brewed in London 1,189,481 barrels of "Strong Beer and Ale;" and 740,846 barrels of "Small Beer." The population of the metropolis at the above date was computed at less than a million-and-a-half. The highest price of the strong beer and ale was £2 10s. per barrel, the lowest 18s. Small beers, "not amended with strong," were then usually sold at from 7s. to 8s. per barrel; but if the customers purchased beer at the breweries, the price was lowered accordingly. Of course the above quantity does not include what was brewed by private individuals, the quantity of which is not stated. The Excise only of beer and ale in the city at the above date was "farmed" at £120,000 per annum.

among the marriages, which had just caught his eye, of which the following is a copy :— "Joseph Addison, of Bilton, in the county of Warwick, Esqr., was married unto Charlott, Countess - Dowager of Warwick and Holland, of the parish of Kensington, in the county of Middlesex, on the ninth day of August, Anno Domini, 1716." I wonder what brought Addison and the countess so far east as Lombard-street to be married?

Stoke Newington. ALEXANDER ANDREWS. GRAVEYARD INSCRIPTIONS.—In the course of my vacation rambles I visited Folkestone, and was much struck by a custom which has been observed without exception from 1752 to 1832 of adding to the tombstone inscription the number of children and their names in full, whom the deceased had left behind him. I have never met with this curious practice before, or if I have, it has been exceptional; and I may add, with regard to Folkestone, that it occurs in the yard attached to St. Mary's (the parish church) only.. GRAY'S INN.

*

*

For

"THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS."-An early ALDERMAN COMBE.-Among the members who illustration of this dogma has occurred to me indulged in high play at Brookes' Club was Alder- lately in the "Theologia Moralis" of Antonius de man Combe, the brewer, who is said to have made Escobar. That learned Jesuit, who lived from as much money in this as he did by brewing. One 1589 to 1669, wrote, "He who takes pleasure in evening, whilst he filled the office of Lord Mayor, acts bad in their nature-and committed by him, he was busy at a full hazard table at Brookes', for a good end, out of ignorance, or in a state of where the wit and the dice-box circulated together drunkenness, when dreaming, or from want of with great glee, and where Beau Brummell was one reflection-after he is awake and has regained his of the party. 66 Come, Mash-tub," said Brummell, full consciousness, does not sin. * who was the caster, "what do you set ?" "Twenty- the end alone gives acts their proper character, and five guineas," answered the Alderman. "Well, according as the end is good or bad our actions also then," returned the Beau, "have at the Mare's become good or bad." EPSILON. (Mayor's) pony" (a gaming term for twenty-five THE LORD MAYOR'S HUNT.-Some one, with guineas). He continued to throw until he drove initials only, has lately propagated the canard that home the brewer's twelve ponies running; and then "the Lord Mayor," and, I think, the joker adds getting up, and making him a low bow, whilst "the Aldermen," still "hunt the stag" in Epping pocketing the cash, he said-"Thank you, Alder- Forest on Easter Monday. The best of the fun is man; for the future I shall never drink any porter that people have asked seriously for "the particubut yours." "I wish, sir," replied the brewer, lars" of the alleged corporation hunt in the two or "that every other blackguard in London would three years last past. tell me the same."-Steinmetz's " Gaming Table."

X.X.

THE BLUECOAT SCHOOL (for so we prefer calling it as the popular name) has, we have reason to hope, got a reprieve. The rare old scholastic buildings with which such fine and inspiriting associations and traditions are entwined are not to be swept away for trafficking railway purposes-at least, we believe, not for the present-so the good king Edward need not groan in his honoured grave. Let us hope we have "tided over" the contemplated desecration for a while, and that a better spirit will ascend to guard the reverend pile. ADDISON'S MARRIAGE. While searching the registers of St. Edward the King and Martyr, in a forlorn hope of finding some clue to Pope's birth, my attention was directed by the rector to an entry

Near the Wake Arms.

VERDERER.

a

ST. CROSS, WINCHESTER.-A recent contributor to Once a Week states that "in each of the large pillars" near the east end of the middle aisle " stone had been taken out and replaced, and, on tapping these stones, it was evident that they concealed some hollow place." I do not endorse this statement, but I am one with the writer in his comments on the statement for which he is responsible:

"How it was that these stones were overlooked when the church was being renovated a few years since may well be a subject of surprise, and it would seem likely that the Antiquarian Society would be amply rewarded for their trouble if they obtained an insight into these mysterious holes, which have apparently been closed so long." Winton.

J. P. G.

Queries.

The house was in the parish of Stapleford Abbots, quite out of the way of any frequented EPPING FOREST.-Some confusion seems to road, and in the neighbourhood of a small and exist in the public mind on this subject. In benighted hamlet called Bourne Bridge. It was recent discussions on disafforesting and enclo- what is called an "off-hand" farm, the land sure, the words "Epping Forest" are popularly being held by a Mr. Taylor, who lived on used to represent three great forests, contiguous another farm some two miles distant, callęd it is true, but at one time distinct as to rights, "Blackbush." When I add that it was not far courts, and jurisdiction. These are Hainhault from Havering-atte-Bower, perhaps I shall have Forest (bordered by Barkinside, Lambourne, indicated the locality sufficiently to obtain a clue Chigwell, &c.); Epping Forest (lying rather to the relic of departed grandeur, on which the between Woodford, Loughton, and the town of bailiff's pipe and homely mug of beer were the Epping); and Waltham Forest (on the Hert- only ornaments at the time of my visit. Has fordshire side of Essex, and to the left of the the house been pulled down or dismantled, or is others, of which Chingford, High Beech, &c., the mantelpiece still there? J. S. T. may now be taken as the best known parts). How far am I right in this belief, and where can I find any precise reference to the boundaries of the three forests?

S. S.

LITERARY PSeudonyms.—The recent edition of "Men of the Time" gives a reference to noms de plume which greatly adds to the value of the work. A "Handbook of Fictitious Names" ANONYMOUS LATIN PROVERB.—"Quem deus was published some six years ago, which, though vult perdere, prius dementat." From what writer far from complete, afforded a valuable key to is this oft-quoted proverb taken? "Whom the several locked mysteries. Curiously enough, gods would ruin they first make mad" is in the laborious and erudite author himself various forms impressed upon us, but is there adopted the pseudonym of "Olphar Hamst," any classical foundation for the assertion? I which often appears in journals of literary cannot call to memory any Latin writer who research. Is it not time that a writer who has ever said so. done so much good service in the cause of investigation should avow himself, and thus add weight, by his own honorable proper name, to his already valuable contributions to bibliography and kindred subjects; or does it afford him some self seriously mentioned in learned publications amusement (as it has afforded me) to see him

LL. D.

THE JEW'S HOUSE AT LINCOLN.-The Builder, in the early part of last year, called attention to the ruinous condition of this almost unique specimen of Norman domestic architecture, supposed to date back seven centuries. Have any steps been taken to preserve it? London.

ELIAS MOSs.

FULLER'S WORTHIES.-I have a copy of this work in manuscript of the style in vogue early in the seventeenth century; but I can hardly venture to hope that it is the original. The writing is very small, but exceedingly sharp and clear, and, although it can be easily read without a glass, when subjected to magnifying power, it proves to be a beautiful specimen of caligraphy. Can any of your readers inform me whether this was Fuller's style of writing? F.B.

ROME LAND. This name was given to plots of ground in the precincts of the Abbies, the rents of which were appropriated to the Holy See. There is an enclosure so named adjoining St. Albans' Abbey, and now used as a burial ground. There is another contiguous to Waltham Abbey Church, corrupted into "the Bramblings." I should like to hear of others. J. FURLONG.

KNOWLES' HILL, ESSEX.-I remember many years ago being taken to see a finely-carved old oak mantel-piece in the "keeping-room" of a farmhouse on the borders of Hainhault Forest.

as Mr. Hamst?

J. B. D.