White Quartz Pebbles* 133 



white quartz pebbles and other stones akin to them in g^raves 

 in various parts of the world, and their various uses in all 

 sorts of other conditions, it would perhaps be interesting to 

 suggest the conclusions we may come to, as to the possible 

 reasons for the great reverence paid to them and their 

 apparent value. We have the evidence and opinion of some 

 of the foremost of our antiquaries, but no one seems to be 

 really certain of the purpose for which these stones were 

 employed, so that I think we may venture to make a guess as 

 to their probable use, and it would be very valuable if any 

 one in Galloway who has met with, or heard of the find of 

 <iny of these white quartz pebbles in cists or urns and who 

 should hear or read this paper, would make the discovery 

 known, so that all information on this most interesting sub- 

 ject may be gathered together. 



I like to think, as Mr Gatty suggested to me, that the 

 sparks which the quartz pebbles emitted in the dark, gave 

 the idea to our far-away ancestors, of something which might 

 illuminate the gloom of the grave, and light them to their 

 future life. As we know that white pebbles in the cist at 

 Burgie were found under the head of the skeleton, might we 

 not almost say they were under the man's pillow as being 

 most handy for him to strike a light quickly. Then again, 

 as all the necessary things in life for his daily existence were 

 invariably placed in the tomb beside the departed relative or 

 friend, so that he might continue in a future life to use the 

 same implements, would it not be natural to suppose that 

 what he used for making a light in his dwelling on earth, 

 should be provided for his use in another world? 



These stones also may have been used as cure-stones 

 both for his family and friends, as well as for his herds of 

 cattle. A requisite in his cvery-day life at home, he may 

 have believed that the one to come was only a continuation 

 of this one, and everything needed here would be just as 

 necessary hereafter. So too if he believed that they were 

 able to frighten demons away, he would require a goodly 

 number of these charm stones. Or if, as in the verse. 

 Revelation 2, v. 17, so often suggested, the white stone was 

 regarded as a token of having fought and overcome, here 



