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Mr. URBAN,

April 2.

difcovered a fourth, 6 feet 7 inches (5)
feet 11 inches clear), by 2 feet 7 inches
(1 foot 11 inches clear) at head, and
1 foot 8 inches (clear 11 inches) at feet;
the lid overhung 5 inches on the North
fide. It was 11 inches in the clear at
feet, and at head 22 inches, and 5 feet
11 inches long, clear; 1 foot 4 inches
deep within, I foot 11 inches without,
thickness of the lid 6 inches, making
together 2 feet 5 inches. No fcull in
this, but the other large bones, and
wood duft, and line. This coffin ap
peared long and narrow, not fo well
quared as the others, and the lid hung
over on the right about 4 inches. They
were all made of yellowith stone, full
of foils, fuch as it was obferved the
handfome church at Afhwell was built
of. The lime in the laft had more of
a yellow tinge than that in the others.

IN digging a ditch, Feb. 26, 1802, to plant a hedge to inclofe a piece of garden-ground, in the centre of the field of 12 acres called The Bury, at the SouthWeft corner of Ware, oppofite the mill, and not far from the wall of the priory garden on the other fide of the road, the labourers at the depth of three feet came to a stone-collin, which being opened was found to terminate at the head in an obtufe angle, though covered with a ftone more rounded at the head. It was fix feet long on the outfide to the fet-off of the head, the fides of whole angles were each 12 inches long, and the bafe 1 foot 11 inches, and at the feet 13 inches; the fides 4 inches thick, 13 deep in the clear. A human skeleton was found in it, the bones of which, by order of Mr. Frafer, the curate, were depofited in the church-yard. South of this, at the diftance of about 12 inches, was found another, 7 feet 3 inches long, 6 feet 7 inches in the clear, 2 feet 8 inches over at the head, 1 foot 11 within, 14 at feet, 12 inches deep, 17 inches high, The lid of this was broken at the bottom. The head of the skeleton in this was entire, reclined to the left fhoulder, the lower jaw fallen, and In the mould was found one finall each jaw contained 15 teeth. The copper coin of the lower empire, Conbones were perfect, even of the fingers ftantine the Great, or Conftantius; and toes. The body appeared to have head laureate. Reverfe, two Victories been laid in a wooden cafe, at leaft a fupporting a field, on which was the quantity of fine brown duft, or pow-utual infeription, VOTA PR, or voï. der, in fig 3, was taken for it; and a x. See fig. 6. body of lime, or white mortar, adhered to the coffin in fome parts, and appeared to bear the marks of a winding-fheet, closely adhering to the fhape of the body.

A third coffin, found March 2, at the fame difiance from the laft, was 2 feet 2 inches at the head, 1 foot 5 inches at the feet, 4 inches thick, 12 inches deep, 17 inches high, 7 feet long, or 6 feet 6 inches in the clear. In this was no fcull the thigh bone meafured 20 inches, the leg bone 16 inches. The arm and fhoulder bones were in in fitu, and the lower vertebrae of the back rather of a large proportion. The fame lime and wood duft appeared here.

The two laft coffins and lids were ftraight at the head.

March 3, at the diftance of 20 feet due Weft from thefe three, which lay in a row from North to South, was

GENT. MAG. May, 1802.

All thefe coffins lay Eaft and West. The bones lay in good order, although the ligaments had been com pletely deftroyed. The enamel of the teeth, which had been fiolen away, remained in the lower jaw; and fome fall remains of hair, thort and tufty, adhered to the back of the fcull; and about the ears the tkin appeared in feveral places dried on it.

The name of Bury occurs in the deed of conveyance to the Byde family in the Civil war.

Salmon fpeaks of fortified ground on the other fide, called Ronnefley, which he refers to the Danes, Hiftory of Hertfordshire, p. 243; and a Roman road is fuppofed to have run near the field in quellion.

On the hill near Dartford brent, in a gravelly foil, in digging a grave for a horfe, was difcovered a few years ago, the fione coflin, fig. 5, coupofed of foft flone, clamped with four iron clamps, let in with lead, one on each fide, and at the head and feet. When this coffin was opened, Mr. Brand, the owner of the field where it was found, fays it contained the bones of a young female, fuppofed about 19; the teeth were all found and beautifully white, the hair long. The body had been overfpread wth a white plate

whi

394 Great Chesterford.-Castle Andinas.-Mocha. [May,

which retained the impreffion of the
decayed limbs, and even the features
of the face. The coffin meafures 6
feet 2 inches in length within, and is
19 inches fquare; the fides and ends
are about 4 inches thick.

In a corn field in Fifield parifh,
near Ongar in Effex, was found in
land-ditching, 1767, 3 feet under-
ground, a large white free-ftone cheft,
6 feet 4 inches long, 22 inches wide,
Sinches thick, 13 inches deep, in
which was one human skeleton of the
common proportion, the head and
feet lying Eaft and Weft; the lid of
the cheft, ftrongly cemented to it, had
a kind of ridge in the middle. Sepul-
chral Monuments, vol. 1. Introduc-
tion, p. xxiv.

In 1785 were found, in digging gravel without the walls of an antient ftation at Great Chefferford, 2 feet below the furface, feveral fione coffins, roughly hewn out of a folid ftone, 4 inches thick, 6 feet 8 inches long, 2 feet 6 inches wide at the head, and 1 foot 6 inches at the feet: the outfide, exclufive of the lid, 1 foot 9 inches deep; the infide 1 foot 2 inches deep; the cover 7 inches thick, extending 6 or 7 inches beyond the coffin on each fide the under fide hollowed for the better containing a fufficient quantity of the compofition which covered the bodies, and refembled plafter of Paris, wherewith they were all incrufted. Of three coffins taken up, two were cireular at the head and fquare at the feet, and one fquare at the head and circular at the feet. Mr. Walford, in Sepulchral Monuments, Introduction, vol. II. p, ix.

Mr. URBAN,

THE

D. H.

Cornwall, April 15. HE inclofed are sketches of two ftones difcovered about 20 years ago within the inner circle of Cafle Andinas. They are both of fine granite: fig. 7 weighs 17 pounds and a half; fig. 8, three pounds one ounce. If they were weights, perhaps they might have been used for diftributing corn amongst the garrifon.

For a defeription of Cafile Andinas I refer you to Borlafe's Antiquities of Cornwall, p. 315, 2d edit. p. 346, 1ft edit. 1769.

J. R.

It is on the highest hill in the hundred of Penrith, in Ludgyan. It confifted of three stone walls, now ruined, the outer one never finished. The whole diameter 400 feet from Eaft to Welt, and

the principal ditch 60 feet wide. There were a number of little walled circles about 7 yards diameter, and the ftone walls 2 and 3 feet High In the centre of the whole was a well almoft row pit, its fides walled probably for choaked, and at a little diftance a nar

water alfo.

5, engraved two weights fimilar to Dr. Borlafe, in pl. XXVIII. pp. 4, thefe, but does not fay whether found in his own parifh or where. The largest weighed 14lb. 10oz. 11dwt. the other 4lb. 1oz. 7dwt. both of the dovecoloured Cornih granite. EDIT. Fig. 9. is fent for explanation.

CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNAL
KEPT AT MOCHA. (See p. 309.)

MAY 15, 1800. The periodical

mountains of Abyflinia occafions a rains having commenced in the moift atmosphere, which obftructs the pores of the fkin, and brings on a flight degree of inflammation with that difagreeable fenfation which accompanies the prickly heat. It may be confidered as an effort of Nature, to throw off the redundant fluids; which, if carried to the bowels, would produce dyfentery, or disease of the internal parts.

tained with mufic, both vocal and inJune 3. Last night we were enterftrumental, during the whole night. I obferved the houfes on the oppoûte fide of the fireet well illuminated, and a number of female vifitors going in and out. On enquiring into the caule of this feftivity, it appears that it is in confequence of the confummation of the nuptials which were celebrated on the p. 307). The girl is not more than 4th of May laft (as mentioned before, eleven years of age; but the husband, by dint of perfeverance, has removed every obftacle to connubial happiness, and the young lady is perfectly reconciled. In Egypt it is confidered as extremely unlucky if the marriage is not confummated on the first night; and when the girls are very young, as in have recourfe to an expedient which the prefent inftance, they frequently to Europeans muft appear not only harfh, but even brutal. It does not licacy among them; as the apartment appear, indeed, that there is much deis kept illuminated, and the female friends frequently go in to alliti the parties with fuch inftructions as may be neceffary.

Mocha

Mocha, June 8. In the evening went to pay my respects to a fon of one of the principal inhabitants, who had been lately married, and fat in ftate to receive congratulations on the occafion. A large faloon was erected before the houfe, capable of containing between three and four hundred perfons, and furnished with couches, cushious, and carpets, for the accommodation of the company. It was hung round, as well as overhead, with palampons, printed cottons, and filks, and interfperfed here and there with artificial flowers; and the whole illuminated in a fuperb manner. We carried a prefent of four large wax candles, which were received by one of the attendants, who faid in Arabic, "An abt arouz; I am the fervant, or flave, of the bridegroom ;" and prefented the candles to the bride groom, which he received, and depofited under his throne, where he fat Cross legged, with an elegant turban and dretled in a firiped filk gown. His age, I am informed, is 17, and the bride's 16. He never faw her face before marriage; but is obliged to rely on the report of his mother or fifters, as to her perfonal charms, or other good qualities.

age

He appeared a flender weakly lad. There were five or fix boys, of the of feven or eight years, feated along with him; I fuppofe either relations or friends. During our ftay, which was about half an hour, there were not lefs than 200 wax candles prefented, befides pieces of filk, cloth, and fhawls, all of which were depofited near him. There were four candlesticks placed on a table before the throne, each candlestick holding candles that were received, and divided into 12 branches. There were placed, at right angles and between them, four pots with artificial flowers. Among the principal curiofities was a glafs lanthorn, in which you faw feveral fhips of war, with all their fails fet, in chace. This, I was told, was moved by fteam, and was conftantly turning round: I believe it was brought from China. The artificial flowers were most of them well executed, and had a very pretty effect. Several of the Arabs had their hookers, and were fimoaking. As this is an amufement to which I am by no means partial, I declined the offer of one. We were fanned during our ftay by two perfons appointed for that purpofe,

and regaled with fherbet and rofe-water. On going in, and coming away, we fhook hands with the bridegroom, which probably was meant as a compliment to us, as I obferved it was not the custom with the Arabs. Every thing was conducted with the greatest decorum, and in a fiyle much beyond my expectation. We are treated with every mark of civility and attention; and, on coming away, conducted to the door. This ceremony latted five days, which however is unufual, as it feldom exceeds two or three. The palampons, cottons, and filks, employed for fcenery, are fent to the banyans to be glazed and folded, and are afterwards depofited in the godowns (warehouses) for fale among other prefents. They likewife receive bottles of rofe-water, fo that the expence is probably very trifling to the merchant, father of the bridegroom.

June 25. Being the anniversary of: the death of Sheick Siendal, whofe remains are depolited in the South nofque, which has been illuminated for three nights paft, and a numerous body of people have been paying their refpects to the manes of the faint, and. prefenting oblations at the fhrine; on the morning of the 26th the lights were extinguifhed, and they walked through the different ftreets in proceffion, with an immenfe wax candle upwards of fix feet long burning, and finging a hymn. This feftival is called Zaira.

July 10. A man from Cape Afab, a native of that country, ftates, that on the South fide of the Cape there are remains of houfes, and other appearances, which indicate that a confiderable town flood there formerly. It is at the diftance of half a mile. You have fix and eight fathoms water at a mile from the thore. There are four wells of excellent water near the beach; the most remote not more than three furlongs. The beach is good, and a boat may lay in fafety to load with water. The inhabitants of the diftrict are Muffulmen; and if you wish to get water or refreshments, a trifling prefent to Sheick Ibraim will infure you a friendly reception. The Sheick refides at Auba, a place at a fmall difiance from the Cape. The informant is called Mahommed Sabine.

(To be continued.)

THE

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