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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. iv. SEPT. ie, 1911.

AYNESCOMBE, SURREY (11 S. iv. 130). Neither in Lewis's ' Surrey ' nor in Manning and Bray have I met with Aynescombe. I came across a couple of Aynescombe family portraits lately, and if MR. ANS- COMBE will communicate with me, I can tell him where they may be seen.

FREDERIC TURNER.

Esmond, Egham, Surrey.

THIRTEENTH (US. iv. 167, 213). As an example of similar taxation, see * A Declara- tion of the Ancient Tenthe and XV th chargeable within the Countie of Lancaster,' 1569-70, 'Lancashire Lieutenancy' (Chet. Soc., vol. xlix.), p. 24. R. S. B.

PER CENTUM : ITS SYMBOL (11 S. iv. 168). Probably the origin of the mark %, which .means per cent, is owing to "00" designat- ing centum or hundred, the units placed before signifying the number of hundreds. As one of the meanings of per is "through," the diagonal line drawn through or between the two ciphers will give the exact meaning of the symbol % i.e., a line drawn through or " per " "00" (centum]

T. SHEPHERD.

My own idea is that the symbol % has nothing to do with "per centum," but is a form invented by bankers and others to indicate the special nature of the deduction permissible, as interest, discount, or com- mission charges. Thus 5 % might mean a rebate of Is. in the pound for prompt payment, or for interest, or for services rendered. Originally, I fancy, the symbol was used to specify net deductions only (say, 3% = a 3 discount net) as distinguished from fractional particles, say 3| or 4-i, l.ut with the growth of commerce the usage became general in all instances, so that we now say 5 %, 5| %, or 6| % to indicate the amount chargeable according to the nature of the transaction.

M. L. R. BRESLAR.

"GIFLA": "F^RI>INGA" (11 S. iv. 43, 133, 196). DR. MORLEY DAVIES'S suggestion is perfectly reasonable, but so is the counter suggestion that the note was made because the tenth-century editor really knew the position of " Fa?rpinga." It may be taken for granted that the ' Tribal Hidage ' had by that time ceased to be understood, as witness the summation and the interpolation West Sexena " before the 100,000. Guessing at place-names is of no help in the interpretation of the document ; the possibilities are too numerous. But there

seems hope in the facts that the Domesday hidage of the district herein called " the Mercians' land" is somewhere about 30,000, and that the compiler had an orderly mind ; where his names are known to us, we find them arranged in geographical sequence, as Peak, Elmet, Lindsey with Hatfield, and the Gyrwa districts ; or, again, East Angles, East Saxons, Kent, Sussex.

In some cases Domesday Book fails to record the ancient hidage Mr. Baring has shown this in the case of Northamptonshire ; but in many (if not most) cases it does so, or allows this old hidage to be traced out. I think it is more than a coincidence that it gives 700 carucates for Derbyshire and 500 hides for Cheshire (without Chester), while the ' Tribal Hidage ' assigns 1,200 hides to the Peak-dwellers. Further study of it may lead to identifications of the more obscure tribal areas, which seem to be mostly in the East Midland district. The situation of the Chiltern-dwellers is known, and as " Frcrpinga " is only in the fourth place after that name, the tribe was probably either part of the Chiltern-dwellers or seated near them. " Middle England " was immediately to the north, and therefore the old note " Fserpinga is in Middle England" cannot be rejected off-hand.

J. BROWNBILL.

"BOMBAY DUCK" (US. iv. 187). There are numerous references to the Bombay duck, or bummaloe fish, in Anglo-Indian cookery books. Col. Kenny - Herbert (" Wyvern ") mentions it ; and in ' Indian Dishes for English Tables,' by " Ketab " (1902), I find :

" Sooktie (Bombay duck) are Indian cured fish, dried and salted ; they may be served at any meal as a relish with meat, or to be eaten with brefid and butter. To prepare them for table toast before a clear fire till quite crisp and beginning to curl up ; serve without butter or grease of any kind."

" Bombay ducks " are served at every reputable London restaurant as an accom- paniment to curry, in the same way as " poppadaums," and a series of relishes, in little dishes, called collectively a "sambal." " Bombay ducks " may be had from Stem- bridge's, just off Leicester Square.

FRANK SCHLOESSER.

According to Ogilvie's ' Imperial Diction- ary,' "Bombay duck" is the name of the fish Saurus ophiodon, called " bummalo " or " bummaloti " by the natives in India. I have seen it recently on the bill of fare of Lyons' s Restaurant in Victoria Street,. Westminster. L. L. K.