Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/124

 00 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF the centre is an angel receiving the head in a napkin ; and on the left arm of the Cross a representation jicrhaps uf the Ahnighty Father, with niyed nimbus, in clouds receiving the soul (?) in a napkin, whilst below are crowned figures of five negro (wicked) princes in flames of purgatory (?) praying to Him. On the reverse, so to speak, and in the upper limb of the Cross, is the most interesting figure of all — a saint martyred by nailing to a tree with some forty nails in all ; on his right a negro tormentor with hanmier and nail ; on his left another with something like pincers ; the arms, bonnd at the wrist, are crossed before his body (as if to avoid an imitation of the Crucifixion) and nailed. Mr. Coates remarked that he had imfortu- nately failed in all attempts to ascertain the name of the martyr. On the right hand are figures of two saints, one youthful, with the following inscriptions, for the reading and translation of which he had been in- debted to the kindness of Dr. Wright, Professor of Arabic in the Univer- sity of Cambridge : — " How Walatta 'i'akla-Haimanot took refuge'' (with God in ])rayer) and " How Walda Giyorgis (George) took refuge." These, as the llev. H. A. Stern informed Mr. Coates, are the two patron saints of Abyssinia. On the left hand (of the martyr) is a figure of a saint with two other figures behind, about which Mr. Coates would not venture to suggest anything. The inscription on the saint's robe, as Dr. Wright 8.iys, and Mr. Stern agrees, is, "How Walatta-Samuel took refuge" (with God in prayer). Below are two figures, with a ]ium]ied Abys- sinian O.X. ]5y the I'ev. IliCHAFUt KinwAX. — A bronze palstave, from Drewsteignton, Devon. It was found amongst old waste metal at Kxeter. It measures iift in. in length, has no side-loop or ear, and weighs 11 oz. A portion of a bronze cake was obtained with it. — Fragments of lathe-made vessels of a pecuhar description of ware ; from Higli Peak, Sidmouth. — A small sepulchral vessel, of the class designated " incense cups ; " it is pierced on one side with two perforations, about an inch apart from one another ; it is of dingy, brown-coloured j)aste, measuring lijin. in height, and '2h in. ni diameter ; the surface, the ilat rim, and the bottom of the cup are wholly covered with corded impressed patterns in zigzag fasliion, with circular bands at intervals. It was found in a barrow at U|»ton Pyne, near ICxeter, with a bronze dagger, a bnjuzu pin or awl, and a nuinl'cr of small discs of shale, a bugle-shajied bead of red clay, three other beads, and part of the stalk of an encrinite. Tiiese had pi-ubably l»ccn strung as a necklace. A fidl account of tlio examination of the barrow is given by Mr. Kirwan in the; Transactions of the Devonshire AsjKJciation, 1H71, vol. iv. ]>. Gil. JJy Sir.lEUVoisECLAitKi:-.Ii;uViHj:, Part. — A remarkably jierfect bronzo palstave, found near Prewlands, Forfai-shire, on the jiroperty of James Small, Khi|., of l)irnaman, Perthshire.-. lienrt-shaped object of terni- cotta, diniensions 7 in, by "»A in., (tl)tained near PrewlandH, on the site of an old house. It bears houw rougldy-worked ornament, and had been used JUS a ht.mrl for a Hat-iron ; its (hite and the jturposo for which it was originally intended liavc not been aHcertained. MS. found pre- Hcrved in a copy of tho Hook of Common I'rayer, printed by Pobcrt Young, Kdinburgli, WM ; a l»ond l)y Andrew and Wdham Moncrief of P.rth to (ithers of that place, IT; October, (]'M'>. '>y .Mr. V. J. Dkh.miaiiu Smith. — A small iron axe-head, fovmd in the