importance of carefully studying the works of savage nations who still retain the use of stone implements, with a view of better comprehending the lithic relics discovered in the Britannic islands: suggesting that in the islands of the Pacific Ocean may yet be found a reflex of the habits and mode of life of our own rude ancestors. He then described in detail the more simple-formed varieties of the axe or celt, making a division between it and the adze; enumerating the different kinds of mauls, axe-hammers (Thor's hammers), and axes with perforations for handles; and closed the European division of the subject by condemning the theory of Thorlacius, who contended that these things were mere emblems of the power of Thor, the mighty thunder god of the north. The asserted discovery of stone implements in India was next noticed; and Mr. Cuming then proceeded to the consideration of the relics exhumed from the sepulchral mounds of North America; to the war axes and martels of the Yookulty of Nootka Sound, and of the axes and clubs armed with stone blades of the ancient and modern inhabitants of South America. The axes, adzes, etc., of the savages of the Oceanic regions were next dwelt upon, special mention being made of the terrible meri of the New Zealanders, and of the curiously hafted adzes from the Hervey's Group. After calling attention to the different formed axes, etc., peculiar to each quarter of the globe, Mr. Cuming made a few observations upon the races to whom the stone implements discovered in the Britannic islands were referrible, races which he conceived are spoken of in the old romantic chronicles as giants, and whose graves we still call giants' graves and giants' chambers, and whose existence must be carried back to the most remote periods of antiquity.

Mr. J. B. Scott exhibited two drawings made from fragments of sepulchral slabs discovered on the site of St. Benetfink, Threadneedle street, which will be particularized, with illustrations, in the next Journal.

MARCH 8.

Mr. Sadd, of Cambridge, sent for exhibition a fibula and an enamelled badge, which will be engraved, and appear in the next number of the Journal.

Captain Tupper exhibited a lock, elaborately carved, of about the year 1470-1480, found at Bridgewater, which will also be engraved for the next Journal.

Captain Tupper also exhibited a fine paalstab of bronze, lately obtained from Normandy. It was well cast, and sharp at the edges.

Mr. Cecil Brent exhibited a leaden token, having on one side the letters I B, and on the other a cross composed of five parallel lines. This token was probably a merchant's mark, and was found in ploughing a field between Canterbury and Fordwich.

The rev. T. Hugo exhibited five flint arrow heads, found at Clough, in the county of Antrim, in July 1850.

Referring to Mr. Syer Cuming's paper on "Stone Implements", read at the preceding meeting, Mr. Whichcord exhibited a valuable assemblage of articles from New Zealand, all of which were obtained during Captain Cook's second voyage of discovery, the most important of which consisted of: 1. An adze of green jade, about 8 inches long, and 2 inches across the keen edge. The adze of New Zealand differs from that met with in other islands of the Pacific, in having no rough stem to catch the cord which binds the blade to the haft, and in this respect, as well as in general form, resembles the stone implement known as the "Scandinavian type of celt". 2. A mass of obsidian, from which cutting implements have been split. 3. The typhonian-like image called Tiki, (ancestor) of green jade, the eyes set with mother-of-pearl, 31 inches high. 4. Female figure wrought of brown wood, 53 inches high. It has a monstrous head with protruding tongue like the Hindû goddess Kali, and her eyes are set with mother-of-pearl. The right arm is upheld, and the left hand spread upon the side: the whole surface of the body richly carved in imitation of the amoco. This interesting and curious image is of great rarity. 5. A lady's casket of brown wood, every part being carved in the richest and most elaborate manner, the handles at the ends consisting of projecting heads; five heads appearing on each side, and the handle which surmounts the cover is formed of two reclining figures with eyes of mother-of-pearl. 6. A conical object of brown wood, 8 inches long, said to be a whipping-top, the broad end and flat surface carved and set with shell. 7. Two trumpets, one carved with a head having shell eyes, the other covered with skin. 8. Two examples of the battledoor-shaped meri, one of whalebone, 147 inches long; the other of basalt, 15 inches long. 9. Two examples of the billhook-shaped meri of wood, the one 14 inches long, having the pommel carved with a head; the other 16 inches long, with a figure at the back of the blade, and a head on the pommel, and having its original wristloop made of the plaited fibres of the Phormium tenax, or New Zealand hemp. Mr. Whichcord also produced three other specimens from different localities: one a bracelet formed of a section of a large shell (Turbinella) worn by the natives of the New Hebrides as a mark of honour; another, a neck ornament from the same group of islands, consisting of the white cowry, called the poached egg (Ovulum Ovum) pendent from a loop of plaited human hair: and, lastly a barbed spearhead of bone from Terra del Fuego.

Mr. Pettigrew exhibited two fine specimens of carving in jade from New Zealand, which may be regarded as extraordinary proofs of the skill of the Maories lapidaries in working and polishing this hard and beautiful stone. The one is a small adze-blade, 31 inches long, and 2

inches across the edge, which is exceedingly keen: the other a very large example of the Tiki image, measuring no less than 6 inches high, with its eyes set with the brilliant nacre of the haliotis. Mr. Syer Cuming made the following communication "On the Meri of New Zealand.”

"Among the most formidable and singular arms employed by the primitive tribes of New Zealand must be ranked the weapon called indifferently by the natives meri and patiti, and which was first made known in Europe under the more lengthy title of patapattoo. The meri has been described as a mace, a club, a bludgeon, and a tomahawk; but it seems in fact to be a compound of the axe, sword, and club; used not only in war, but also in giving the death-blow to a criminal. The meri is seldom less than a foot in length, and rarely measures more than 18 inches. It is wrought of various substances, wood, bone, basaltic-stone, and the beautiful green jade called pounamu, which is obtained from Tovy Pounamu, the most southern of the two islands of New Zealand. The grip is perforated for the admittance of a loop which passes round the warrior's wrist when he wields this terrible weapon; which when not in use is thrust through a waist-girdle, in the manner of a dagger. There are three distinct types of the meri: the most common is in the form of a battledoor, the blade having convex surfaces, and more or less sharp throughout its surrounding edges; the grip being rounded and terminating with a pommel bearing various decorations. The next type is a modification of the battledoor shape, the blade being more oval in outline with the centre of the edges cut away, so that the whole weapon bears some resemblance to a violin, and may be designated the fiddle-formed meri. This is by far the rarest of the three types. The last type exhibits a considerable change in form: it has a broad singleedged blade like a bill-hook, and recalls to our mind the awkward heavy daggers met with on some parts of the Gold Coast of Africa.

"I now proceed to lay before you some examples of the meri. Of the first, or battledoor type, we have several specimens. The first is of wood, and measures upwards of 21 inches, being far above the ordinary length. The pommel is carved on each side with arched ridges, and the aperture for the wrist-loop is of a square form. The next specimen is wrought out of a piece of the jaw-bone of the cacholot-whale. It measures 17 inches in length, is well polished, but unadorned with carving. It has a round aperture for the loop. In another specimen formed of bone, but unlike the last, it has flat surfaces: the pommel decorated on each side with boldly carved perforated scrolls and human eyes; a style of ornament reminding us of Saxon, or rather Runic works. This meri is 18 inches in length, and I have the authority of my learned friend Dr. Ernest Dieffenbach, the well-known historian of New Zealand, for stating that this specimen is of very considerable age and of great rarity.

"I lately had the pleasure of exhibiting to you a meri of basaltic-stone measuring 14 inches in length, and I now produce one of the same material of a smaller size, measuring only 123 inches. The pommel is wrought with grooves, and the round perforation for the loop has been evidently effected by drilling the stone from the two opposite sides; the perforation being very much larger at the orifices than at the centre.

"Of the second, or fiddle-formed type of the meri, I may refer to the plates in the various editions of Cook's Voyages, where it is well represented.

"Of the last, or bill-hook type of the meri, I have an exceedingly fine specimen. The pommel is wrought with the head of a Chimæra, very similar to the heads sculptured on the doorway arches of early Norman buildings. On the back of the blade next the grip is carved in alto-relievo a grotesque, or rather monstrous, human figure; the right hand resting on the breast, the left upon the abdomen. The shoulders, arms, buttocks, etc., are carved in imitation of the amoco, or tattooing, the favourite dermal decoration of the New Zealanders. It is believed that this figure represents some ancient chieftain, the sight of whose image would inspire the warrior with courage amid the strife of battle. This specimen is formed of rich brown wood, and measures 17 inches in length. It was formerly in the collection of sir Ashton Lever.

"The meri must be considered as one of the ancient and obsolete weapons of the Maories, for it is no longer employed by them; its place being supplied by arms of European manufacture.

"These instruments appear to have little or no connection with British antiquities, as no analogous weapons are met with, either in this country or Ireland; and yet they are not altogether without value, as affording examples of the mechanical skill of man in his primitive and unsophisticated condition; giving, as they do, a direct and unequivocal answer to those who cavil about what our rude ancestors would and could effect without the possession of tools of iron. In these arms we have indisputable proofs, that men destitute of metallic tools and utterly ignorant of metals, did with the aid of sharpened stones and shells, of teeth and pointed bones, work not only in solid wood and bone, but also in the hardest stone, forming the outline of their implements in a regular and given manner, decorating certain parts with carved embellishments, and boring the handles with square and cylindric perforations. These weapons are the tangible monuments of the laborious skill, the taste, the ingenuity, the industry of the wild savages of the Oceanic regions; and from all we can glean of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, we have no reason to place them in a lower grade of civilisation than the Maories of New Zealand."

Mr. T. Gunston announced that he had last week visited New Cannon street, to watch the excavations now going on there. At twenty feet

from the frontage he found a very thick wall of Roman construction, composed of rubble with layers of red and yellow tiles, measuring twenty by thirteen inches. Near this a plaster floor of lime, sand, and broken brick, laid on the natural bed of gravel. Here and there, mixed with the earth, were several Roman remains. On the south side, close to the site of Gerard's hall, there were those now exhibited: 1. Part of the side of a very large amphora. 2. Three necks of gutturnii, one having a handle. 3. Lower part of a gutturnium. 4. Part of the rim of a mortarium. All the foregoing fragments are of a light-coloured terra cotta. 5. Eight pieces of olla, some of which are evidently from the Upchurch potteries, whilst others are of a much coarser fabric. 6. A small lucerna or lamp, of well-baked terra cotta, of a dark colour. It is in the highest state of preservation. 7. Twelve pieces of plain and figured Samian ware; two bear the potters' names, being MARTI and OF. Severi. Bottom of a square ampulla of green glass.

8.

The specimens discovered at the west corner of the street adjoining St. Mildred's church are: 1. A jug of light-coloured earth, 13 inches high, having a swelling body and a loop handle; the vessel bearing such a close similitude to one of the jugs on the sculptured stall in Ludlow church, figured in the Journal, vol. iv, p. 210, that no doubt can exist that it belongs to the same period (Richard II). 2. Neck with handle of a very large jug, the mouth measuring 51 inches in diameter, and when perfect must have nearly resembled in general form the one engraved in the Journal, vol. v, p. 26, but the surface is decorated with a peculiar trellis-pattern, like the "diamond-moulded glass" of ancient and modern days. It is made of light-coloured earth, the outside covered with a mottled green glaze. Date, apparently the last half of the fifteenth century. 3. Round dish or saucer, about 1 inch deep, and 4 inches diameter; the inside covered with a mottled green glaze. Probably of a somewhat later date than the previous specimen. 4. Bottom of a large jug, the edge impressed all round with the thumb, so as to produce a coarse kind of embellishment. It is covered with a dull brown glaze. Of the time of Elizabeth.

The rev. Mr. Hugo remarked that recently another name had been added to the list of potters. In the city of London had been found a specimen of what is commonly called Samian ware, with the maker's

name NOTVS.

The remainder of the evening was occupied in the reading of a paper, by the rev. Beale Poste, "On the Sea Margins of Kent, and the Formation of Levels and the later alluvial Tracts; in connexion with historical and archæological research: as also Inroads of the Sea in various parts of the coast, as applying to the same subject." Mr. Whichcord from personal knowledge confirmed many of the statements made by Mr. Poste in relation to the coast of Kent.