Antiquarian Notes. 39 



this juncture the experienced assistance of Mr. Wm. Swanston 

 was obtained, and a number of flint knives and chips dug out. 

 Mr. Swanston had been at work only five minutes when he 

 turned up a finely-polished greenstone chisel and a fragment of 

 a celt. I had previously found, close by, the coarse sandstone 

 on which they were rubbed. At a stonethrow from the spot» 

 and in the direction of the Causeway, are some large boulders 

 of trap, each weighing considerably above a ton on the 

 average, evidently forming the remains of a rude stone 

 circle. These stones must have been brought from the 

 sea shore, one-eighth of a mile distant, and placed on the 

 surface of ground already occupied by human beings, as on 

 excavating beneath them unmistakable flint implements were 

 obtained in profusion. In fact, the whole district must have 

 supported a large settlement of the early flint age, and was 

 suited admirably to supply their wants. Deer and other wild 

 animals would abound in the dense forests which covered the 

 face of the country, even in Elizabeth's reign. The Bush 

 swarmed with salmon, and the harvest of the sea was at hand, 

 whilst the raw material for their weapons was also easily pro- 

 curable. In later times these advantages were supplemented by 

 the intercourse which could easily be carried on along the 

 coast line in coraghs of skin, which are still used on the Donegal 

 coast. A few words may be of interest on the subject of the 

 probable life led by the ancient people who used these rude flint 

 implements to kill perhaps the great Irish elk, or even the huge 

 hairy elephant or mammoth. 



Attention has been recently directed to the life pursued by 

 existing savages in Australia and Queensland as representative 

 of that of our own aboriginal race ; but a nearer parallel seems 

 to be found in the Ainus of Yezo, one of the Japanese islands. 

 This interesting people are the survivors of the primitive 

 inhabitants of the country, driven gradually out by the present 

 Japanese. The Island of Yezo lies near to Siberia, and is moun- 

 tainous, with fertile valleys and rapid streams. It is as well 

 wooded as our country was 200 years ago, and bears, wolves, 



