431 A. EK. Verril—The Bermuda Islands. 19 
A short distance north of Hamilton, on the shore, near the north 
road, there is a place still called the “ Ducking-stool.” It is said to 
have been the site of that ancient and peculiar imstrument for the 
punishment of gossiping or scolding women, who led “ scandalous 
lives.” It was also used in England and America, at that time.* 
Owing to the softness of the limestone, many deep cuts have been 
made through this stone, which forms all the hills. The rock is 
divided vertically into blocks by deep, narrow channels, cut by means 
of heavy steel chisels, abont two inches wide, mounted on long 
handles. These great blocks are then dislodged, and if sound enough 
are cut up into regular rectangular blocks, suitable for the walls of 
houses or other masonry, by means of ordinary cross-cut wood saws. 
It is said to saw about as readily as soft wood, when first quarried, 
but it rapidly hardens at the surface when exposed to the weather 
fora few months. (Fig. 11.) 
As a result of this mode of quarrying out a road-cutting, the sides 
of the cuts are always steep, often nearly perpendicular, and they 
afford excellent sections for the geologist. Hverywhere they show 
the irregular, abruptly shifting stratification, often with the layers 
inclined at high angles, characteristic of wind-drifted or sand-dune 
formations. ‘This plainly proves that all these hills are only consol- 
idated sand-dunes, made of shell-sand blown from the ancient sea- 
beaches. Several of the deepest cuts are near Hamilton, which is a 
hilly region. (Fig. 12.) 
Various vines and herbaceous plants have taken root in the crevices 
of the older cuttings and help to conceal their angular and artificial 
* Tt seems, from the following record, that a ‘‘ stool” was not found necessary 
for administering the punishment in the early years of the settlement. 
““ At the Assizes, 18th June, 1667.” ‘‘Susana Bayley, wife of John Bayley of 
Deven: Tribe, presented for that shee the said Susana is a person of scandalous 
life, and found by her conversation to promote dissention in the neighbourhood. 
Whereuppon the said Susana was found guilty by a Jury of 12 sworne men, 
uppon the 27th day of June ’67. And was censured by the unanimous Vote of 
the Court, to be forthwith ducked with three ducks. Which said Censure was 
accordingly performed from aboard a vessells yards arme lying at the Bridge, 
the sayd day.” Five ducks were often given to women. 
How many ducking stools were subsequently erected does not appear, but 
there is recorded an order of the Council of Sandys Tribe for the erection of a 
“duckingstoole” March 25, 1672. It was also ordered that Miles Rivers should 
either pay for that ducking stool, or else his wife Mary should be ducked ‘‘ when 
the stoole is erected.” The Sheriff had complained ‘‘that she did abuse him 
with her tongue in ye execution of his office.” The records do not show which 
horn of the dilemma was chosen. 
