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XII.—I. Papers connected with a Latin Acrostic Inscription engraved on a 
Stone brought from the Great Temple at Kalabshe in Nubia, by Captain 
Perer Rarnier, R.N., C.B., A.D.C. to His Majesty, Sc. &e. 
Read 19th of March 1831. 
No.1. Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Joun Bowzer, M.R.A.S., F.Z.S., 
to Colonel Tuomas Durer Broveuron, the (then) Secretary to the Roya 
Astatic Socirery. 
2, Old Cavendish Street, 12th March, 1831. 
Sir: 
I have now the pleasure to forward to you an extract from the private 
journal of my brother-in-law, Captain Peter Rainier, C.B., of the Royal 
Navy, giving all the information in his possession respecting the stone dis- 
covered by him in the great temple at Kalabshe in Nubia, having a Latin 
acrostic inscription cut on it, of which the accompanying is an exact copy.* 
-The information thus afforded by Captain Rainier will, I have no doubt, 
be considered interesting; and I beg to express a hope that some of the 
learned members of this Society may be able to decypher the copy of the 
inscription now before them, and favour us with a translation. 
On accidentally looking over Josrpuus a few days ago, I met with two 
accounts of a Roman warrior named Gattus; and as this in all probability 
is the same person mentioned in the inscription, and conceiving that they 
may possibly throw some light upon the subject, I shall insert them, as 
follows : 
From the “ Wars of the Jews,” 2d book, 18th chapter, and 11th section. 
—* Cestrus (Gatus), the president of the province of Syria, sent GALLus, 
the commander of the twelfth legion, into Galilee, giving him the command 
of as many forces as he thought equal to subdue that nation. ‘This being 
accomplished, he returned with his army to Caesarea.” 
Again, in the 4th book, 1st chapter, 5th section: speaking of Ves- 
PASIAN’s siege of Gamala, in which the Romans lost a great many men: 
“ But there was a centurion named Gauuius, who, during that discord, 
* See Plate. 
