548 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



The manufacture of native pottery by women was very fully 

 illustrated. This is altogether hand- made without a wheel, 

 the result being very similar to the remains of ancient pottery 

 dug from Irish graves and sand dune settlements, such as we 

 have in our Grainger collection. The lecturer also illustrated 

 and described the making of native canoes from logs of wood, 

 dug out with stone implements and the action of fire, such as 

 was probably the origin of the dug-out boats in the Benn 

 collection of the Natural History Museum, Belfast. Our 

 crannoges, or artificial islands, so common in Irish lakes, were 

 illustrated by the native pile dwellings that occur along the 

 coasts at Bulaa and elsewhere. The construction of these 

 villages was described in an interesting manner, and demon- 

 strated the correctness of the accepted theories as to the origin 

 of our ancient Irish crannoges. The process of making fire by 

 the friction of pieces of wood was shown, and the method of 

 tatooing as practised by the women. A number of games of 

 Motee children were illustrated, such as cat's cradle, leapfrog, 

 tug of war, and several that have no British equivalents. The 

 natives of these distant islands attribute to supernatural agency 

 or to the mighty deeds of their legendary heroes all special 

 natural features in the landscape, such as rocks, mountains, &c, 

 and the legends are carefully preserved and recited, as is 

 common in Ireland still in remote places. Native shrines were 

 shown, which are erected to secure success in fishing and 

 cultivation of crops of fruit. At these shrines native offerings 

 were typically represented, as, for example, a basket of fruit 

 was represented by a large shell holding a few stones, and, as 

 in Ireland, upright stones of memorial frequently occur. Mr. 

 Bigger, Chairman, Messrs. Wright, Gray, and Patterson 

 discussed the merits of the lecture, referring to its many 

 subjects of comparison with Irish customs in ancient times, 

 and, on the motion of Mr. Wright, F.G.S., a very cordial vote 

 of thanks was passed to Professor Haddon. 



