Book I.] THE ICENI RACE. 5 



It is very uncertain for what purpose the objects 

 designated by Mr. ColHngs as beads were fabricated. 

 They are frequently found in tumuli or earthworks, 

 and remains of early occupation. They are mostly 

 formed of indurated clay, bone, or stone, sometimes 

 almost spherical, whilst other specimens are of 

 flattened form, perforated in all cases, in the direction 

 of the smaller diameter. They vary from about one 

 to two inches in diameter. The conjecture appears 

 probable that they may have been used in connection 

 with the distaff, and the occurrence of such an object 

 in a tumulus might thus serve to indicate the 

 interment of a female. Some northern antiquarians, 

 however, have regarded such perforated balls, or 

 beads, as weights used in fishing, either for line 

 or nets.* 



The tribe of the Iceni, whose headquarters were 

 at Exning, on Newmarket Heath, is mentioned by 

 different ancient writers, though under a variety of 

 names. That of " Iceni " is the form under which 

 it appears in most copies of Tacitus, and that which 

 is generally adopted. By Ptolemy they are called the 

 Simeni (Stjuevoi, or, as some copies give it 'I//,€i/ot), and 

 their chief town is said to be Venta (Ovez^ra). The 

 ninth Iter of Antoninus is from Venta Icenorum 

 (or Iciorum) to Londinium, and the geographer of 

 Ravenna makes mention of the same town, but under 

 the form Venta Cenomum. We learn from Tacitus 



* An urn somewhat similar to that described above was found by 

 some labourers employed to remove one of the Barrows on the Beacon 

 Hill in May, 1815. See " Archaeologia," vol. xviii., app. p. 436. London, 

 1817. 



