207 



in Irish ; the Bachull-Mura, or pastoral staff of St. Murus ; 

 and a MS. containing the proper office for the saint's festival 

 (1 2th March) : all of which existed in Colgan's time. 



The Bachull-Mura is now in the collection of George 

 Petrie, Esq., LL.D., and Mr. Bell is of opinion that the bell 

 now exhibited to the Academy, having been found in the 

 neighbourhood, and being undoubtedly a bell of the seventh 

 century, may also be considered as the bell of St. Murus. 



It is of bronze, with a top or handle of wood, decorated 

 with silver. One side of the bell is also richly decorated with 

 a crystal and gems, and with very elaborate silver ornaments, 

 which cannot be later than the eleventh or twelfth century. 

 What is singular respecting this bell is, that the ornaments are 

 attached to the bell itself, not, as is usual in such relics, on a 

 case or cover separate from the bell. Dr. Todd also pointed 

 out to the Academy, that a portion of the ornament was loose, 

 and that on removing it, a still more ancient ornament was ex- 

 posed, representing the usual Irish knot-work deeply incised 

 in the metal. The tone of the bell is, of course, destroyed by 

 these ornaments, which are fastened by rivets to its side. 



Mr. Bell states : " Like many other Irish square bells, it 

 was probably used as a drinking-cup. It was customary to 

 make women during their pregnancy chunk from such bells, the 

 people entertaining the idea, that a draught administered in a 

 holy bell was possessed of peculiar virtue in diminishing the 

 pains of childbirth." 



Geo. Petrie, LL.D., made some remarks on the bell, and 

 gave some additional evidence to show that it was the bell of 

 St. Murus, mentioned by Colgan. 



The thanks of the Academy were voted to Mr. M'Clel- 

 land for his kindness in exhibiting the bell, and for permission 

 to have it deposited for some time for public inspection in the 

 Academv Museum. 



