Photograph by C. W. Wright 



THE COMMUNITY LAUNDRY TUB 



Every day is wash day in Sardinia, and the public fountain takes the place of the village well 

 of the Orient and the sewing circle of the Occident as a social center 



fied habitations. They are usually situ- 

 ated in commanding positions at the en- 

 trance to tablelands, near the fords of 

 rivers, or on almost inaccessible moun- 

 tain peaks, and within signaling distance 

 of one another. Traces of at least 5,000 

 "nuraghi" have been found. 



The ancient tombs of the inhabitants of 

 the "nuraghi" are usually found near 

 them. These are called the "tombs of the 

 giants," and are chambers 3^ feet wide 

 and from 30 to 40 feet long, with a roof 

 of flat slabs of rock and with the sides 

 made of the slabs or of rough walling. 

 The bodies were probably arranged in a 

 sitting position. In front of the tombs 

 are circles about 40 feet in diameter, sur- 

 rounded by stones ; these were, no doubt, 

 used for sacrifices and burial rites. 



Another type of tombs found in Sar- 

 dinia is that of the small grottoes cut in 

 the rock like those in prehistoric ceme- 

 teries in Sicily. In these tombs and in 

 the "nuraghi" sarcophagi were discov- 



ered, generally of marble ; also idols con- 

 sisting of small bronze figures varying 

 from 4 to 17 inches in height, images of 

 dogs, bats, apes, and other animals — all 

 most crude in workmanship and gro- 

 tesque in form ; medals, coins, vases, or- 

 naments, arms, and articles of terra-cotta 

 and glass. Most of these latter must an- 

 tedate the Roman occupation. Some of 

 these relics and similar objects, including 

 articles of jewelry dating from the Ro- 

 man occupation, can be seen in the Mu- 

 seum at Cagliari. 



LANGUAGE REFLECTS MANY RACES 



The Phoenician settlement is the ear- 

 liest of which there is any accurate knowl- 

 edge. Sardinia was said to be the grain- 

 producing center of the Carthaginians 

 about 500 B. C. The Romans captured 

 it in 238 B. C, and it was then noted for 

 its supply of corn. The Romans built 

 many towns and roads, and remains of 

 their monuments, temples, and sepulchers 



