Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 1.djvu/407

 ii s. i. MAY 14, 1910.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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Jacob Boggeveen. A translation of his official log of 1721-2, concerning the discovery of the island, begins the text of this volume. The reports which follow contain a good deal of technical seafaring and formal matter which is dull. As soon, however, as we reach details of the island itself, there is much to interest us in the descrip- tions of the inhabitants, their idols of stone (described as " superb statues "), their weapons (sharp-edged stones), and their ideas of morality. A journal kept by an officer of the frigate Santa Rosalia says of the inhabitants :

" The principal men, as well as the women, are extremely addicted to beg, and take with gladness whatever comes to their hands, without making any return ; they show no resentment if deprived of their spoils : they are quite content with old rags, ribbons, coloured paper, playing-cards, and other bagatelles. Everything of a bright red colour pleases them greatly, but they despise black ; they are so fond of taking other people's property that what one man obtains another will take from him, and he yields it without feeling aggrieved : the most he will do* is to resist a little, then he loses his hold of it and they remain friends."

Again :

" I made a bow and arrow, duly strung, by way of experiment, and on handing it to one of those with the scars he instantly stuck it on his head as an ornament, and then hung it round his neck with much joy, being totally ignorant of its use and effect."

Dr. Corney, though a competent editor, has a looseness of style which is hardly up to the standard of the Society's publications.

Sir Richard Temple has used admirable diligence in annotating the travels of Peter Mundy, a lively and indefatigable recorder whose work abounds in historical notes and curious details of bygone days. Mundy, born in Penryn, South Cornwall, about 15&6, was an educated man with a talent for languages, and the MS. of his writing at the Bodleian Library covers a period of sixty years 1 Here we have the European travels, the Indian voyages being reserved for later publication. We select a few of the many things which have struck Us as noteworthy hi the volume.

There is an elaborate description with illustra- tions of ' Punishments used hi Turkic : stakeinge, gaunchinge, drubbing or beating on the feete.' " Gaunching " means punishment by the " gaunches," great, sharp-pointed iron hooks on which the victim was dropped with his hands and feet tied.

At Venice the author speaks of " Privilees," i.e., members of the privileged classes. He saw here the Bucentero, " a vessel like a Gallye, but shorter, thicker, and higher, whereon is shown the utter- most of Art for carved Worke, that being over layed with gold, soe that when shee is in the Water, shee appeares to be all of pure gold." He goes on to describe the use of this vessel by the Duke and nobility of Venice, who go to marry the sea every year on Ascension Day, a rich ring;being let down into the water by a string, and pulled up after various ceremonies. In* Calais (spelt in- differently Callaies and Callais) Mundy found only one church in 1620, whereas there were no fewer than eighteen in Canterbury. He " lay " in this

city at " The Checker," "The- Chequers Inn," of which considerable remains are still extant. At Gravesend his party took two light boats since- called gigs, but described by him as " light horsemen."

" Chensford, a prettie hansome toun," recalls a pronunciation of Chelmsford which is said hi the notes to have been used by the older inhab it- ants of Essex " as late as the close of last, century."

" St. Maloes in Brittaine " the traveller speaker of as a place of very great strength and traffic, which, in addition to its natural and artificial fortifications, was protected at night by " twenty- four mungrell Doggs " sent out of the gates with a keeper. While Mundy was there, they tore one man in pieces as well as cattle.

Throughout the student will find excellent notes referring to Coryat's ' Crudities,' Lithgow, Moryson, and other authorities on the routes traversed and things seen. This part of the work adds much to its attractions.

The Burlington Magazine opens with two im- portant articles on the questions which have agitated connoisseurs, the wax bust ascribed to Leonardo and the Rokeby Venus. The former the editors regard without hesitation as entirely the work of Richard Cockle Lucas, deprecating the attitude of " racial animosity " between England and Germany which has been taken by some unwise experts and critics. As to the Rokeby- Venus, the editorial pronouncement is : " Our belief in the authenticity of the picture remains unshaken. It is founded upon the singularly unanimous verdict of all serious students of Velasquez's art, headed by Senor de Beruete." The alleged markings are discussed in a moderate spirit, and it is pointed out that "few great masterpieces have a better-authenticated pedi- gree." The ' Notes on a Tudor Painter : Gerlach Flicke,' by Mary F. S. Hervey, include his will of 1558, recently discovered at Somerset House. This shows what we may still expect from collections of documents fairly accessible. Mr. C. J. Holmes continues his studies of ' French and English Pictures in the Salting Collection.' The illustra- tions ' Moonrise at the Mouth of the Yare,' by John Crome, and ' Spetchley,' by John Constable,, show what treasures the nation has secured. There are several of Constable's works depicting his favourite district on the Stour, and his visits to Hampstead and Brighton. Mr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy writes with illustrations on parison between Oriental and Greek workman- ship. There are also illustrations to Mr. Campbell Dodgson's article on ' Recent Publications of Rembrandt Drawings,' which fully deserve the praise and attention of the expert. ' The Fountain of Life : an Iconographical Study,' by Evelyn Underhill, is of interest to theologians as well as artists. There are some beautiful speci- mens of Irish Chippendale figured in an article on the subject by Mr. Herbert Cescinsky ; and further illustrations show the remarkable quality of some of the Japanese national monuments which are to be seen at Shepherd's Bush this summer. These are briefly described by Mr. Roger Fry, who expects from the study of Oriental art a new renaissance in our own painters and designers.
 * Indian Bronzes,' making an interesting com-