Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/62

48

Of bronze ornaments found on these islands there are the following. Several bronze rings of different sizes, two of them with transverse spring openings, others hollow, and probably parts of armour or horse trappings; two bronze needles, one of them with the eye entire; a bronze pin, the head hollowed like a cup, and bearing a striking resemblance to the ends of the golden ornaments often found in Ireland; several bronze pins like modern shirt pins, some of them ornamented, another with a hole in it to which a string was probably fastened; two large pins of the common type; parts of several bronze fibulæ or brooches, with fragments of several bronze instruments, rivets, &c.; a small circular bronze bell, like a sheep-bell; three harp keys of bronze of different sizes. Harp keys are often found associated with military remains in Ireland; in illustration of this subject I may mention an intercepted letter from Brian O'Rourke to Mac Mahon, in October, 1588, and preserved in the State Paper Office. Mac Mahon, it appears, had sent for a harp as well as some military weapons, O'Rourke answers, "We do assure you that we cannot send you the same, for that there is not a good harp in our country, but we will provide a good harp to you, and we will send two great spears and two skeins to you, of the best that is made in our country."

Of other ornaments found on the island on Lough na Glack, I may particularly mention several amber and blue glass beads, three bone pins, and a comb apparently of ivory. Of iron instruments, an iron dagger, measuring with the hilt fifteen inches; several iron coulters of ploughs, of very primitive form, seven inches in length; parts of iron instruments, the use of which it is impossible to determine; a long gun barrel, three feet eight inches in length, of that sort, I believe, formerly called a calliver; part of the lock of a pistol; many large bullets of lead were also found; I may add to this list a pair of quern stones, found in the Monalty Island, some burnt corn, the refuse probably of the primitive thrashing and winnowing of the ancient Irish, which consisted in merely setting fire to the corn when reaped; remains of coarse broken earthenware vessels, and bits of thick dark glass; an earthen pot, shaped like a hat; another of Dutch