620 BEPORT— 1880. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Notes on the Origin of the Malagasy. By C. Staniland Wake. 



After referring to the traces of early Arab influence in Madagascar, the paper 

 proceeded to show the close agreement in manners and customs between the Mala- 

 gasy and the Siamese and other peoples of the Indo-Ohmese peninsula. The 

 Malagasy were then shown not to have any special connection, in either customs or 

 physical characters, with the islanders of the Pacific, their agreement in certain par- 

 ticulars being due to their common origin in South-eastern Asia, a conclusion 

 which is confirmed by the evidence of language. The author considered that the 

 peculiarities presented by the Plovas and allied tribes, as distinguished from the other 

 Malagasy, were due to the Arab element which was introduced into South-eastern 

 Madagascar, perhaps indirectly, from the Indian Archipelago, about the eighth 

 century, a.d. Traces of Hindu influence are also perceptible among the Malagasy, 

 owhig to intercourse with the Hindus before the migration from the Indian 

 Archipelago. Whether these Asiatic settlers found an earlier race inhabiting 

 Madagascar is doubtful ; but some of the Malagasy tribes possess many features in 

 common with various African peoples, which are probably due to their having had 

 a common origrin. 



2. On the Antiquities of Loughor Castle} By B. Jones. 



An ancient British camp or station, called ' Llwchdwr,' utilised by the Romans, 

 ■and called ' Luecarum.' It had an outer and inner moat, and a watercourse from 

 the river Llw, about five miles distant, to feed the moats, and the garrison was 

 called ' Poundagwrdrwg-.' 



The remams of the ancient castle are situated on the eastern bank of the delta 

 of the river Llwchdwr, a muddy stream commanding views of the valley and 

 country all around — quite a ' bella vista.' An outpost called ' Stoutwall ' existed, 

 ■and a sudatorium, west of the church, taken away by the South Wales Railway. 

 Roman tiles have been found in the sudatorium with a dog's footprint, also some 

 pottery and Roman coins, some in possession of the writer. A foot-bridge crossed 

 the river to the hospitium of the garrison, now called spitty. 



_ The Via Julia came direct from Nedum, or Neath, to Luecarum. Traces of it 

 existed until recently, passing Pen-lle-gaer as an intermediate camp, from which 

 the Via Julia diverged northward to a bridge over the Loughor river at Llandilo- 

 taly-bont, leading to a Roman camp at Estemenlle, on its way to the Roman 

 ' Maridunum,' or Carmarthen. The ancient town of Loughor was situated south of 

 the castle ; traces of it still to be seen. The present town is built chiefly on the 

 inner moat. There exists still a building called the ' sanctuary,' supposed to be 

 the Roman garrison chapel ; and Pentwyn Hill, inside the outer moat, was prob- 

 ably the garrison exercise-ground. 



The Roman coins comprise some of Trajan, Nerva, and Antoninus, and several 

 others in Mr. Jones's collection (some found at Loughor), also other more modern 

 coins — some Saxon found in tlie ruins of the old Manor House in Temple Street, 

 Swansea, and also coins fomid in a foundation of Christ's Hospital in London. 



Mr. Jones has also a DruicVs head, found in a cairn on Cefenbryn Common in 

 Gower. Mr. Jones mentions various other coins in his collection. 



3. On Australian Auiochthony. By W. Fokster. 



4. On Drum-signalling in Africa. By Hyde Clarke. 



This subject had been brought before the Association formerly by Captain 

 ^Jameron, R.N., and Mr. Clarke proceeded to give some explanations, based on com- 



' Published in extemo in the Camhrian of 3rd September, 1880. 



