30 



at Sherborne, wherever any diggings take place, the small pipes have been 

 found. Most of them are with the broad foot remarked upon by Mr. Smith, 

 which foot is often impressed with perhaps the initials of the maker : — 



WL MI ID 



One example picked up at Bradford seems to have a lengthened inscrip - 

 tion, but not perfect enough to be made out. Most of the examples have this 

 broad rounded foot quite plain, without any letters or inscription whatever. 

 The pipes with the broad foot are usually very small, and have a crenulated 

 ornament around the outside of the bowl. Another form is common with a 

 small pointed base at the bottom junction of the bowl with the stem. In 

 these the bowl is usually larger than the previous ones, and in shape 

 nearer those of the present day. The stem is longer — the bowl of the pipe 

 is quite plain. In one example — and only one — we have the small bowl 

 contracted and miUed with the small pointed heel, and a tube 5 inches 

 long. We have before us a collection of 20 examples, as follows : — 



The small contracted bowl and broad foot, with letters on the foot . . 5 



Ditto, without letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 



With larger plain bowl and pointed base . . . , . . . . 4 



With small, crenulated bowl, long stem, and pointed base .. ..1 



What would be the tale of those sent away I cannot saj ; but to me this 

 enumeration is curious, as showing that the more ancient form known as 

 the "Fairy pipe" is the most common. The first or the smaller bowls 

 belong to those called in the country the " Fairy pipe," and it is supposed 

 they point to a period when the fragrant weed was very scarce, and per- 

 haps, too, a time when it was used with great caution and hesitation, the 

 notion being to " Snatch a fearful joy," as Gray so eloquently puts it. 

 As the custom became more common, it would seem that the bowls were 

 made larger, but it is curious to note that these supposed more commonly- 

 used bowls are not met with so often as the smaller ones, and it is still more 

 interesting to note that the modern pipe is not found about our fields so 

 often as are the fairy ones. We quite agree that the subject is curious and 

 interesting, and if our members will kindly preserve all the bowls they may 

 pick up, our Society may do something to remove the " opprobium of 

 Archseologists." 



J. BUCKMAN. 



