Mr. Kendal’s account of the Dighton rock. 181 
without the usual and convenient tools and instruments. I think that 
he was not unacquainted with works of art, of a better and higher char- 
acter. Ihave mentioned what I suppose to he imitations, in this in- 
scription, of pen writing, drawing, and:statuary ; and I cannot but go 
on to»believe, that the artist had seen designs executed with more ac- 
curacy, than this, which he has left us. He has evidently intended to 
describe equilateral angles, planes ‘parallel to the horizon, and right and 
perpendicular lines; but he has failed in almost every imstance. In the 
drawings, which Ihave seen, and which I had full opportunity of com- 
paring with the inscription itself, errors of this sort were corrected. 
The angles were adjusted ; and the horizontal and perpendicular lines 
made what they had been intended to be; but it appeared to me, that 
this was no other than an important misrepresentation of the original. 
One of the facts, most interesting to be known, concerning this in- 
scription, is the degree of advancement in the arts, of which it may af- 
ford testimony ; and in removing the possibility of doubt, as to the con- 
spicuous inaccuracy of what was designed to be accurate, I have 
satisfied myself, that the artist worked wholly by his eye 5 ; that his 
eye was not the best ; and that he had been accustomed to see, and 
wished to imitate figures, determined with the precision of the rule 
and compasses. 
_ Among other inquiries, having reference to the rock, and natural- 
ly made in its neighbourhood, and in which I had the advantage of 
the polite and friendly assistance of Major Baylies of Dighton, were 
such as tended to discover some explanatory tradition. In this how- 
ever I was unsuccessful ; nothing, which I could gather, affording a 
Satisfactory or even specious clue. Respecting Asonet neck, on 
which the rock is seated, the tradition is, that it was a place of banis 
Ment among the Indians ; but whether the practice of banishment 
was known to the subjects of king Philip, I leave to those, who are 
