O'EiEiLi.Y — Ringing of Bells in N. Spain and in Ireland. 493 



lead to the inference that, the Spanish style referred to, might have 

 the same origin as that suggested for the corresponding Irish monu- 

 ments, that is, Syrian of the third to fifth centuries. 'No doubt, De 

 Vogiies' splendid work has greatly influenced the author of the article, 

 and not without reason. "Were we better acquainted with the nature 

 of the relations which existed between the various parts of the Roman 

 Empire and the neighbouiing states and peoples during the fii'st three 

 or four centuries of our era, we should probably find no difficulty in 

 accepting the author's suggestion as to the eastern origin of the- 

 architectural peculiarities of the buildings he describes. The spread 

 of Christianity followed almost as a matter of necessity the trade 

 routes ; hence the great trade centres of the time situated along the 

 shores of the Mediterranean must have, at an early period, received 

 Christian Missions from the east; to this cause must be added the 

 influences of war and pestilence in causing dispersions of Christian 

 communities in the east, and their emigration or flight to more remote 

 and safer countries, where they implanted certain of their customs and 

 modes of life ; that Spain, Gaul, and the British Isles received a part 

 of this emigration can hardly be doubted, and the Litany of St. -^ngus 

 bears trace of it. That therefore in Northern Africa, Southern and 

 Western Spain, and even in ]N"orthern Spain, remains of temples or 

 churches, having an eastern appearance as to style, should be met 

 with is not to be wondered at, and provided other indications are fm'- 

 nished pointing to the same origin, the occui'rence may be quite credible. 

 Now it is mentioned in the different articles on bells, as given in the 

 encyclopedias and dictionaries, that in the eastern chiu'ch, bells were 

 of later introduction than the commencement of the ninth century, and 

 that clappers, or similar instruments for producing sound, were there 

 used instead of bells in the conventual communities. A relic of this 

 custom may be considered as subsisting in the use of clappers, instead 

 of the regular bells, in Roman Catholic countries, during the religious 

 ceremonies celebrated between Good Friday afternoon and Easter 

 Sunday, when it is popularly said, " the bells have gone to Rome." 

 Illustrations of such clappers are given in " Demmin's Encyclopedic des 

 beaux arts plastiques," vol. n., p. 1367, under the heading "Cloches" 

 (bells) :— 



"Eig. 4. — Shows ' Cloche des Grecs dans I'Empire Turc; instrument 

 en bois que I'on frappe avec des marteaux en fer.' 



"Eig. 5. — ' Autre cloche des Grecs de 1' Empire Tiu'c,' seemingly a 

 square or cubical mass of wood (possibly a metal box?) which is 

 struck also with a hammer or mallet. 



