Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/14

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. v. JAN. e, im.

tor the usual inspection, and at once detected what he knew must take place. Nevertheless the usual question was asked, What have you done this for ? and the usual reply was .given, but without avail. The expected sen- tence was pronounced, "huitjoursde prison." Having served his term, the man was not required to sew the parts up again, but was allowed to keep his bags in walkable condi- tion. I was told this many years ago by a Zouave who had won 4,000. in a State lottery, and had consequently given up soldiering. Perhaps the authorities are more reasonable now. RALPH THOMAS.

"PRETTY MAIDS' MONEY." The following extract from The Cornish and Devon Post (Launceston) of 15 July, 1905, records a cere- mony which seems worth noting :

" This money, amounting to 21. 10-s., which, left by the Rev. Mr. Meyrick, is known as the 4 Pretty Maids' Money,' and which is given to ' a pretty maid of good character and regular attendance at Church,' on the first day of the Fair each year, was on Tuesday received by Miss Elsie Back. The legacy was left 'to promote peace on earth and goodwill among men.' There was a good attendance at the church porch on the occasion, among them being the rector, Rev. T. S. Kendall, Mr. Horace Higgs, C.C., Mrs. Kendall, sen., Mrs. Kendall, juu., and other ladies and gentlemen. As soon as the clock struck twelve, Mr. Higgs handed Miss Back the money, heartily congratulating her. Miss Back returned thanks, after which she received the congratulations of those present."

DUNHEVED.

" HOOSHTAH." This word seems to be one of the most recent importations into English. A friend who has lately returned from Westralia uses it upon every possible occa- sion, both as interjection and verb. He tells me it is really a cry of the Afghan camel- drivers, of whom there are many on the gold- fields. I have just come upon the following quotation in an Australian novel, * True Eyes, 5 by Randolph Bedford, 1903, p. 295 : 44 So the camel was ' hooshtahed ' down and strapped, after she had ground the dust under her chest - pad into the shape of comfort, and so left to the enjoyment of the quandong." JAS. PLATT, Jun.

THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. The recent important changes on this much - abused railway afford a pleasant contrast with its many years of perennial grime and smoke- saturated tunnels. There is an excellent description of its earliest years in a little collection of papers on London subjects, entitled 'Trifles,' by Edwin Utley, London, 1864.

The writer on 18 June travelled from Farringdon Street to Hammersmith five days

after this portion of the line had been opened. After leaving Bishop's Road " we were no longer in the dark, but in a clear and healthy atmosphere, travelling in comfort, and even luxuriously. The line traverses an extremely pleasant country. At first we had brickfields on our left, and new-mown hay and broad green meadows on our right. The change from * under- ground' to daylight and sunshine, from impure air into a sweet-scented and invigorating atmo- sphere, was really delightful We were left alone

in our lofty and spacious carriage, and had the privilege of walking about in it and viewing the country ; and it was all country, and looked charming."

Evidently the "privilege of walking about" was not restricted by the necessity of having to hang on to a strap. ALECK ABRAHAMS. 39, Hiilmarton Road.

BIRDS OF EAST FINMARK. It may be of use to students of Northern languages to record in your pages that in The Zoologist, Second Series, vol. ii. pp. 697-700 (1867), there is a list of the native names of the birds of East Finmark, compiled by Ch. Som- merfeldt, parish priest of Nsesseby.

EDWARD PEACOOK.

CECIL FAMILY. (See 6 th S. vii. 384; viii. 69 ; xi. 69 ; 7 th S. xii. 144.) At the above places the descent of the great Lord Burghley from the Sitsilts of Alterynnys, believed in by himself see the document reproduced in Nares's * Memoirs,' vol. i. p. 8 is disputed, and it is suggested that he was descended from a Yorkshire family named Cecill. Stress is laid (6 th S. vii. 384) on the use of the spelling "Cecill" by Lord Burghley and his father and grandfather. I think some light is thrown on the question by the will (P.C.C. 13 Adeane) of Sir David Philipp, Knt., dated 25 September, and proved 10 December, 1506. The testator is buried at Stamford, but he mentions "Dewles," to the rood of which he gives a legacy ; and this may be Dulas, Dewlas, or Dulace, a few miles from Alterynnys. But a more certain point is that Lord Burghley's grandfather David is named as an executor, being the only executor who proved ; and a legacy is left^to him as a godson of the testator, unless (which is, of course, possible) the godson was David's son David. In all cases the name is spelt Seysyll, Scisseld, or Scissilde, never Cecill. Agnes Scisseld is also mentioned, and the following clearly Welsh names occur : Jane ap Rosser (legacy), Hugh Edwards (exe- cutor), Sir John Landaff (witness). Some conclusion might be drawn from the prove- nance of Sir David Philipp himself, if that be known. If he lived in early life near Alterynnys, and if David Cecill, senior, was