544 REPORT — 1892. 



the Egyptian gold mines in "Wadi AUaga. The ancient Egyptians also 

 extracted gold from quartz by means of crushing and washing, as we see 

 from the process depicted in the paintings on the Egyptian tombs, and 

 in any gold-producing quarter of Mashonaland, near old shafts and by 

 the side of streams, innumerable crushing-stones are stiU to be seen, 

 used anciently for a like purpose. 



Diodorus tells us of the gangs of slaves employed in this arduous 

 labour, and of the long dark shafts into which they descended. In the 

 Mazoe district we entered several of these ancient shafts, and it is obvious 

 here that not only for working the mines but for the construction of the 

 massive buildings similar gangs of slaves were employed. 



After describing the process of crushing and washing Diodorus con- 

 cludes : ' They then put it into earthen crucibles, well closed with clay, 

 and leave it in a furnace for five successive days and nights, after which 

 it is suffered to cool. The crucibles are then opened and nothing is found 

 in them but the pure gold, a little diminished in quantity.' Here we 

 have an exact parallel to our clay crucibles at Zimbabwe. Also the 

 heavy plating of metal with gold which was practised in Egypt was also 

 known to the people of Zimbabwe, as the gilding on our spear-head 

 demonstrates. 



As Mr. and Mrs. Bent propose to follow up their investigations in 

 Mashonaland by visiting Abyssinia during the ensuing winter, with a 

 view to clearing up certain jDoints connected with their recent expedition, 

 regarding which more information is required, the Committee ask to be 

 reappointed, and that a sum of 501. be placed at their disposal for carry- 

 ing on these researches. 



Report of the Gomonittee, consisting of Mr. E. Se\\'ard (^Secretary), 

 the Marquis of Bute, Messrs. Gr. T. Clark, R. W. Atkinson, 

 Franklen Gr. Evans, (J. Tanfield Vachell, James Bell, and T. 

 H. Thomas, and Dr. J. G. Gtarson, appoioited to report on the 

 Prehistoric and Ancient Remains of Glamorganshire. (Drawn 

 up by the Secretary.) 



The work of registering the localities of the prehistoric and ancient 

 remains of Glamorgan has proceeded, but owing to the inability of 

 several members of the appointed Committee to act, and delays in conse- 

 quence, few meetings have been held. All those objects or remains, how- 

 ever, which are known have been named on the register, and particulars 

 concerning them will be filled in later. 



Important help to the Committee's work has been rendered by two 

 local scientific societies, viz., by the Cardiff Naturalists' Society, under 

 whose auspices a valuable paper was recently read on the ' Ancient In- 

 scribed Stones of Glamorganshire,' by Mr. T. H. Thomas, and also one 

 by Mr. E. Seward on the formation of this record. 



The Cardifi' Amateur Photographic Society, by means 6f prizes offered 

 to their members, have produced some hundreds of valuable original 

 photographs of prehistoric and ancient objects in the county, most of 

 such objects within the county having thereby been illustrated. This 

 collection, which is believed to be the most extensive yet formed in any 

 district, is stored at the Cardiff Free Library. The Corporation have 

 given good aid to the work by important grants to the Prize Fund. 



