26 
tain Golden Ornaments, and other articles, in the Museum 
of the Royal Irish Academy. 
Mr. Ball having urged on those who study antiquities 
the importance of applying observation and analogy to the 
solving of antiquarian difficulties, shewed how these instru- 
ments of inquiry should be applied, by the study of races of 
mankind at present existing, whose state may be supposed 
somewhat similar to that in which the people were into whose 
history inquiry is proposed to be made; it being fair to look 
for like effects from similar causes. He referred to a former 
paper, read January, 1844, in which he shewed how metal 
celts, identical in form with those found in Ireland, were 
used at the present day on the east coast of Africa; and how 
stone celts, also similar to those of Ireland, were used in 
Mexico. Applying the same reasoning to explain the object 
and use of the golden ornaments called by some diadems, by 
others gorgets or collars, he mentioned that in the Sandwich 
Islands the natives used stone celts precisely similar to those 
found in Ireland; they also had those curious lentilform dises 
of stone, precisely identical with those found in Ireland, and 
to which sundry fanciful uses have been ascribed, but which 
Cook and others found to be used as bowls in a favourite 
game of the natives, who had bone bodkins, &c., similar to 
those of olden time in Ireland; it was, therefore, little more 
than was to be expected, to find analogies to the golden or- 
naments found associated with the celts and bowls to which 
Mr. Ball referred. This, he maintained, he had done, in one 
case at least, that of the golden ornament referred to, which 
has its representative in the Sandwich Isles, where gold is 
not known. . Sharks’ teeth, mother of pearl, feathers, and bas- 
ket work, are so put together, as was shewn by the figures 
exhibited, as in all but material to resemble the ornaments of 
gold in the most striking manner. 
From the way in which the ornaments of the Sandwich 
