222 Cooke: Neolithic Life in Lincolnshire. 
The Washingborough boat was also a ‘dugout,’ but, from 
the description that was given to me of it, it was but a small 
specimen. Its value was not appreciated by those into whose 
hands it fell: it has now disappeared. The Witham and its 
banks are rich in these old-world remains, and it is to be hoped | 
that when, in the future, anything of this description be again ae 
brought to the light of day, it will be treasured until such time 
as the County Museum Committee shall be in a position to 
afford it protection 
Such relics as tease afford opportunities for speculating on the 
occupations of these old Lincolnshire folk. We can picture them 
hunting the Red-deer that then swarmed in the north of the county, 
and contesting for the smaller game and for the fruits of the forests _ 
with the Wolf and the Wild Boar. On the meres and lakes of 
the marsh, carr, and fenland they plied their nets; and with the 
assistance of these rude canoes they probably fished the deeper 
parts with their grass lines and primitive flint hooks. Fragments 
the bed of the Witham, near Washingborough, a few years ago. 
In shape it is somewhat rhomboidal, measuring 6 inches in 
length, 276 inches wide at the bottom end, 2 inches wide at the 
top end, and having an average thickness throughout of 34 inch. 
Within an inch of the sneered of the top a hole has been 
bored which in section exhibits an hour-glass form. It is 
a well-worked and seca iy siutaed perforation, and has 
evidently been made by boring alternately on either side of the 
slab. One of the flat sides is covered with groups of groovings 
and striz that form cross-hatchings, but the opposite side has 
no artificial markings. The only explanation that I can offer as 
to the origin of the markings is that they have been produced 
by the iron keels of modern barges as the specimen lay on the 
bed of the Witham. 
Relics like the preceding are such as are not likely to be 
readily destroyed, and, therefore, notwithstanding the com-_ 
paratively great period of time that has elapsed since they were 
first fashioned, they are but little changed in nature or appear- 
ance. Most of the more fragile and perishable articles that 
: 4 
has several i in his collection, and the Rey, Jd ake of Barrow- 
Z “Natutalist: i 
