425 



" The Dowris relics which fell into my hands, and of 

 which I have sent specimens or drawings to be exhibited to 

 the Academy, are as follow : 



"No. 1, The vessel marked A, when found, was, as it 

 now is, of a dark dingy colour, apparently caused by smoke 

 or a deposition of carbon. It bears the marks of having been 

 long in use, and is patched and mended with rivets in different 

 places. Wherever its murky coating is removed, the metal 

 of which this vessel is composed appears to be of the same 

 golden hue as the other utensils found. This vessel had han- 

 dles to it, but they were broken off by the persons who found 

 it. Part of one of these handles is now in it. 



" No. 2. is a portion of another vessel, marked B. It 

 appears also to have been much used. It is much cleaner 

 than the vessel marked A. Both vessels (more particularly 

 that marked A) are composed of very thin and flexible sheets 

 of bronze, not thicker than strong writing paper, which, being 

 too slight to bear ordinary usage upon the fire, were fortified 

 around the lag or junction of the sides and bottom with shields 

 or protecting pieces of a stronger scantling, and apparently 

 coarser metal. These shields are furrowed to prevent their 

 slipping, and were originally riveted on the respective ves- 

 sels. The bottom and several inches in height of the respec- 

 tive sides of both the vessels, A and B, have been hammered 

 out of one continuous piece. 



" I may here observe that brazen vessels were formerly 

 esteemed of such great value in Ireland as to be considered 

 worthy of being given and accepted as a fit tribute and dona- 

 tion to and by Irish kings and princes. Accordingly we find 

 that Cathaoir-Mor bequeathed to Mogh-Corb fifty copper 

 cauldrons, with other articles, some of which were made of 

 gold, and all reckoned of great value. We also read in the 

 Book of Rights that a cauldron was to be'given as tribute to 

 the king of Casbel by the king of Teamhair Luachra. 



" The golden colour of the Dowris vessels well suited 

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