Page:The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 4-1875.djvu/321

 302 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [Octobke, 1875. ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTES. BY M. J. WALHOJJSE, LATE M.C.S. (Continued from jwwje 27-i- ) VII. — Bronze Antiquities in India. The elegantly-shaped bronze jog represented, actual size, in the accompanying plate, was dug up some fifteen years ago near A v i n a s i, in the Koimbatur district, Madras. A great city is traditionally said to have stood where it was found, but only some indistinct monnds and hollows now mark the Bpot, not only ' nerieVe eliam riiincv' — have the very rains perished, — - but the name too has been forgotten, and only a dim tradition survives that palaces and tem- ples once spread widely there. Such legends are not uncommon in India, to whose ancient soil the declaration of the poet is peculiarly applicable — "Thou canst not find one spot Whereon no city stood." With the jug were found a bronze globular oil- vessel with straight tapering spout, and a bronze stand for one wick, both of the forms still com- monly in use; but the jng is of a shape not at all Hindu, nor indeed, though elegant and classical, hardly Greek *,— rather resembling what is known to modern manufacturers ; ,, 4 the Windsor pattern.' It should be remark* ed that the illustration might convey the idea that the rim opposite the handle is furnished with a spout. This is not the case, however; the rim is really broken away more or less all round, the top of the handle not being attached, but & fracture existing between. From some indica- tions it seems probable that the original rim spread round in a perfect circle 5£ inches in diameter, without any spont or depression for pouring out. This would have given the jug a much more archaic appearance ; the shape of the handle with its plaited ornament will be noticed. Avinasi is about a hundred miles from the Malabar coast, between which and Egypt there was certainly a frequent communication in very ancient times ; and the Greek and Phcenician sailors, who took home peacocks and perfumes from thence, may have brought out with them fluch an article as this bronze jug. Further evidence of communication is given by a pot full of well-preserved coins of Augustas and Tiberius, which was dug upatPoliichi in • Ftfrhaps moat nearly approaching the Oinoehni Koimbatur. in 13 10 ■ and there is, I believe, his- torical proof that one of the Pandyan kings sent an embassy to Augustus. Copper orna- ments are occasionally found in the cairns in Central and Southern India, and in 18 70 more than a ton of rudely shaped copper hatchets without sockets, and instruments like knives, were dug up in the B a la g h a t, Maisur ; some are now in the British Museum. VIII. — Masons' Marks. The thirteenth century was distinguished bv a wonderful development of architectural works and skill throughout Europe, and so great a resemblance runs through many of the magni- ficent monuments then erected, that they have been supposed to owe their origin to associa- tions of artificers travelling over Europe, and employing the knowledge erf mathematics and design, that had awoke from the Dark Ages, in the service of art and construction, chiefly ecclesiastical. In that age of faith -The architect Built his great heart into the sculptured stones, And with him toiled his children, and their Were budded, with his own, into the walls, As offerings unto God." Such an association was that of the Fratre* . who wandered from realm to realm for the purpose of building bridges when travelling became more general, and Communication be- tween countries more frequent, as the arts and civilization expanded. Many a pilgrim would then ejaculate with a thankfulness ill xu stood in these days of excursions made easy — " Qofl'e blessing on the architects who build The bridges o'er swift rivers and nbysaes Before impassable to human feet." These societies of wise master-builders and co-workers are believed to have instituted certain secret signs and tokens, by which they might know one another and the works built by the fraternity, and hence are said to have ori- ginated many of the signs and passwords of Freemasonry ; for they were also styled Free- Masons,— equivalent, as some say, to free-stone