TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 825 



gathered a number of cores, chips and flakes, knives, and scrapers. The places 

 where they abound in the district alluded to were invariably of one character. In 

 the first place the district was distinguished by the presence of flint nodules upon 

 the surface, so that these ancient peoples, with whom this place was apparently a 

 manufactory, had the materials ready to their bandS. 



I observed next that they were more numerous as one approached a well or 

 the river beds in wliich the wells are dug. 



Also I inferred that the people who made them seemed to be timid, or in a state 

 of constant warfare with the surrounding tribes (as the Somalis are to this day), 

 because the spots which seem to have been chosen as factories for the noisy opera- 

 tion of breaking up the flint nodules and shaping them, were usually retired places 

 surrounded by low hills, which would prevent the sound from travelling far. 

 There was also generally a watercourse v^ith steep sides, along which persons 

 could escape unseen if surprised by people coming suddenly over the surrounding 

 ridges. 



The implements were most numerous in the vicinity of this central watercourse. 

 The ground had always a very gentle fall, so that the heavy showers which con- 

 stitute the rainfall in Somaliland would wash away the sandy soil, and yet keep 

 the stones lying free and clean upon the surface, in which position they wer« 

 always foimd. 



Also there were generally no other stones upon the surface besides these worked 

 flints. 



There is another point which I cannot explain, though the reason may be 

 simple ; it is that there was never any vegetation upon the spot upon which I found 

 these implements scattered, excepting a few scraggy mimosa bushes. 



This was not owing to my not having searched the surface where it was partly 

 covered with plants, for I was always on the alert to detect the presence of worked 

 flints while in pursuit of game. I trained some of my men to discover these spots, 

 which were not hard to iind, being, as I said, bare of vegetation, and the shining 

 surfaces of these flints reflecting the sunlight and covering the ground, sometimes 

 for the space of half an acre. I also trained them to pick up and bring me worked 

 flints. Still, I often found fine specimens on ground which they had already 

 searched. 



It is my intention to return once more to this district this winter, which will 

 make my seventh expedition into equatorial oriental Africa. 



Finally, out of all my specimens, I think there is not one absolutely perfect ; 

 all seem either damaged or unfinished. 



Sometimes I found an unfinished spear-head on the ground, surrounded by a 

 mass of flakes and chips, as though the people had dropped their work, and, carry- 

 ing with them all their perfect weapons and belongings, had fled, never to return. 



2. On Flint and Metal Working in Eqypt. 

 By Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie, D.C.L., LL.D. 



3. On Flint Inbjilements loith Glacial Markings from the North of Ireland. 

 By W. J. Knowles, M.R.I. A. 



The author referred to his having exhibited and described a large pear-shaped 

 flint implement with glacial markings at the Southport meeting in 1883. The 

 flake-marks did not show evidence of bulbs, and the artificial character of the 

 implement was questioned. The author believed that the bulb- marks may have 

 been removed by dressing, but he now produced specimens which were similarly 

 scratched, and showed iindoubted marks of bulbs and other evidence of being 

 artificial productions. They were found at Kilroot, Larne, and Island Magee, on 

 the shores of Antrim, and though probably lastly derived from the raised-beach 

 gravels found at those places, he believed they had originally come from a glacial 

 formation which had been removed by denudation. 



