[HOWLEY ] OLD BASQUE TOMBSTONES AT PLACENTIA 81 
gent study of the stones. We afterwards compared his copies with 
mine, and found that they agreed substantially, but with a few slight 
discrepancies. 
The first stone bears the date of 1676, the oldest yet discovered. 
The letters stand out in bold relief, the surface of the stone having 
been sunk in. They are about three inches high, and are fairly well 
cut. The lines of the inscription are separated by bands or fillets, 
also in relief. This stone is engraved on both sides, a rather unusual 
thing. 
GANNIS 
CEQANA 
VSAN NO 
NENECO 

No. 1 (back). 
The explanation of the inscription is as follows: —DA HEMEN. 
This is the ordinary phrase so common in epitaphs in all languages, 
“These two narrow words Hic jacet, Cy git, “ Here lies,’ “which 
; Sec. IT., 1902. 6 
