330 AKNUAL EXCURSION. 



history. (See on tliis stone Journal R.I.C, vol. 8, p. 3G6, 

 Arcliaeo. Cambrensis., otli S., vol. 12, p. 50), The word Men means 

 in Cornish "parish," and is believed to be the same as occurs in 

 this place-name. 



Over beautiful countrv the cars next carried the party to 

 the interesting group of dwellings at Chi/samter. Various ideas 

 were expressed as to their age, some regarding them as pre- 

 historic and others arguing that the style of building was modeni 

 and that the weathering of the stones confirmed their late date. 

 In his " Historical Sketch of the Tin Trade in Cornwall" (p. 36), 

 W. C Borlase says that Romano-British remains were found 

 here, but these remains were perhaps meant. If any such 

 objects as potterj' or coins were found they have apparently 

 been lost. The settlement is figured in Lukis's "Prehistoric 

 Stone Monuments of the British Isles." Lunch was taken at 

 Treryn, after which some visited the Gurnard's Head to view a 

 hut circle found by Mr. J. B. Cornish, who here joined the party, 

 while others went to Bosporthennis to examine the beehive hut. 



Thence past Carngalva, and Bosigrau (where is a cliff castle \ 

 obtaining views of Zennor, Pendeen and Morvah churches, 

 which, however, there was not time to visit, to Men Scry fa ("the 

 inscribed stone") and Men-an-iol. Professor Hubner classifies 

 the former, on which are cut the words " Riolabran Cunoval fil," 

 with many similar monuments believed to be Christian. Its date 

 is regarded as 6th century. The men-an-tol (holed stone) stands 

 between two others unpierced, and perhaps formed part of a 

 larger erection. Considerable discussion took place as to its 

 original purpose, and hopes were expressed that the researches 

 of Sir Norman Lockyer would in time help to the better under- 

 standing of this and other stone erections in the county. 

 Nowadays it is regarded as a means of magical cure of rickets 

 in children. Within sight was Ding Bong mine, believed, from 

 the nature of its workings, to be one of the oldest in Cornwall. 



The next object visited was Lanyon Quoit, a fine dolmen. 

 Upset in 1815, it was restored in 1824, when, unfortunately, its 

 uprights were somewhat cut down. In Dr. Borlase's day a man 

 could ride under it. The supports are columnar, and do not, as 

 in most Cornish examples, enclose a chamber. 



