Desert Tombs of Bahrein 



457 



by root-like processes, and are not at all firmly fixed. (3) 

 Fruticose lichens, shrub-like, with many-branched, more or 

 less circular stems. (4) Beard lichens, many-branched and 

 slender threads often found hanging from branches of trees. 

 (5) Gelatinous lichens consisting of dark green tortuous masses 

 of jelly, somewhat superficially resembling certain fungi of 

 the order Tremellinece, but always differing in possessing 

 chlorophyll. 



THE DESERT TOMBS OF BAHREIN. 



The Desert Tombs of Bahrein (an island in the Persian Gulf) 

 are said to constitute the most gigantic cemetery in the 

 world. Captain Prideaux, CLE., has been lately carrying 

 on excavation work in the island, and has collected many 

 fragmentary relics. The Times (January 26) remarks " Primi- 

 tive civilisation first began in this region in all probability, 

 and possibly this desert sepulchre is the oldest piece of man's 

 handiwork now existing in the world. The mounds nearest 

 to the village from which the necropolis is approached are 

 50 ft. high, but the vast sea of mounds beyond is made up 

 of tombs from 20 ft. to 30 ft. in height. The few excava- 

 tions so far made, confined to the higher mounds, show that 

 each tomb consists of two large chambers, one above the 

 other, built of vast blocks of stone. There are side chambers 

 and passages, and the interior is neatly covered with layers 

 of cement. First, the chambers must have been constructed, 

 and then the tomb was covered over with compact layers of 

 earth and small stones, very many feet thick, thus forming 

 a mound capable of withstanding the flight of many ages, and 

 not giving the slightest hint of what lies within. The 

 masonry is cyclopean in character and perfect of its kind, 

 but no marks of masons' tools are discernible. Not a 

 vestige of an inscription has been discovered anywhere." 

 Mr. Theodore Bent thought the mounds were of Phoenician 

 origin. 



