69 



CORNUBIANA.— Part III. 

 By Rev. S. RUNDI,E, M.A. 



I. — Finds. 



A " G-iant's Coit," hitherto apparently unrecorded, was in- 

 spected on Sept. 10th and 17th, 1898. It lies in the parish of St. 

 Hilary, in a little lane hranching off from the Penzance road 

 from Millpool. It was almost concealed from view by a thick 

 tangle of brushwood, in a noot of the hedge, hard-by the mine 

 shaft which is called after it, Giant's Shaft. By dint of vigorous 

 labour, a lever formed from a contiguous branch, that lay handy 

 for the purpose, was inserted between the quoit and the ground, 

 which enabled it to be lifted carefully from its position, where, 

 apparently, it had lain unmolested for ages. Careful investi- 

 gation proved that the ground underneath was virgin soil, and 

 that therefore the quoit, if in its original site, did not cover the 

 grave either of the giant or any legendary hero of old The 

 bottom of the quoit was in its natural rough unhewn state. 

 The upper surface, as well as the sides, had been carefully 

 smoothed, presenting an even appearance. The diameter of the 

 partially moss-grown surface is 3 feet in every direction. In 

 the centre is a carefully fashioned hole, 2^ inches deep by 7 

 inches across. In the centre of the hole rises a boss, roughly 

 shaped, nearly level with the surface of the quoit. There are 

 two markings, apparently carved — the larger of the two is 4^ 

 inches across, from the centre of which diverges the other, 2 

 inches in length. Both reach the circumference of the boss. 



The legends connected with this quoit will be found on page 

 80, under the subject of " Folk-lore." 



An illustration of the quoit, from a photograph by Mr. 

 Stewart, is given in figures 1 and 2 of plate. 



