A SEASIDE RAMBLE 211 



them the small blocks of gault upon which they 

 rest, and to coat them all over with gum, to preserve 

 their iridescence and to prevent the crumbling which 

 results from exposure to the air. 



Here are the remains of an ancient sea beach, the 

 small stones, which were rounded by the rolling 

 action of the tides in days gone by, are now being 

 exposed again, and, instead of being free to roll once 

 more, are firmly cemented together, forming a rock 

 called conglomerate, or pudding-stone. The mention 

 of this last name has suggested thoughts of lunch. 



Here are fragments of pottery and one or two 

 flints, a scraper or fire-striker, and a flake. These 

 tell us something of the remote people who were 

 located in this neighbourhood, and who possibly 

 rambled on that ancient beach now being exposed 

 by the action of modern waves. The pottery is 

 devoid of regularity of outline and of accurate orna- 

 mentation, showing that they knew nothing of the 

 use of the potter's wheel, and probably indicating 

 that they belonged to what is known as the early 

 stone age. This piece of flint was used as a scraper 

 for removing fat, etc., from skins of animals. It may 

 have done duty as a fire-striker, when struck on a 

 piece of iron pyrites. This word ' pyrites ' implies a 

 connection with fire. The methods adopted by our 

 grandfathers for lighting a fire with flint and steel 

 were scarcely more expeditious than those employed 

 by the natives of uncivilized countries, or by these 

 prehistoric peoples of whose existence we have such 



