213 



as is evident from the lower ends of them being chipped with a fine 

 tool. These plugs were in a very soft and ruinous condition with 

 water saturation. 



I now come to the lateral holes, of which there were twelve on each 

 side. A glance at the drawing will show the same evident care ob- 

 served in their arrangement, and such a connexion between them and 

 the ones of which I have already spoken, that any theory attempting 

 to account for them independently would seem to be untenable. For, con- 

 sider the position of these lateral holes— first of those on the side of the 

 boat which is most worn away. They lie somewhat roughly, but 

 for the most part accurately enough, in a line with their respective 

 neighbour holes in the bottom of the boat. This seems at once to 

 establish a connexion between them. There remain the lateral holes 

 on the other, or well preserved side ; and here we meet an element of 

 irregularity — distinguished, however, by a rude method of its own, 

 which We must not overlook. Commencing, then, at the bow — the 

 first hole on this side is slightly in advance towards the bow of an ima- 

 ginary line drawn across the centre of the three holes opposite to it. 

 "Walking aft, the next hole is somewhat on the other, or stern, side of 

 such a line. As we proceed further on, we find these lateral holes widen- 

 ing out in each case from such imaginary lines, but seemingly obeying 

 the law of a rude gradation, until the last hole on this side is found 

 outside the groove, and consequently behind the stern board. I have 

 dwelt with some particularity on these holes ; for they seem to involve 

 a curious puzzle, which has not yet been cleared up. I have only fur- 

 ther on this point to draw your attention to the propinquity of two of 

 the bottom, holes to the tail board, and to state that the lateral holes 

 probably lay below the line of flotation, and that they are drilled down- 

 wards from the interior at a considerable angle. If the holes are to be 

 regarded as of equal antiquity with the shell, there is no theory so far 

 as I know which accounts for them satisfactorily, and but one which 

 rests on a sufficient amount of probability. If any gentleman present can 

 explain them, I can assure him that I know numbers of people whose cu- 

 riosity has been excited, and who will be glad to learn his views. It ap- 

 pears, however, to me, that this magnificent piece of wood, once a boat, 

 was afterwards employed for other purposes, to fulfil which it became ne- 

 cessary to perforate her in the manner in which we now possess her. 

 Some light may be thrown upon the subject when the other two canoes 

 shall have been raised. In the absence of Captain Burton, Mr. Clib- 

 born has asked me to mention the view which he threw out on looking 

 at this boat last week. It is, as I understand, common among cer- 

 tain tribes in Africa to construct their boats of three pieces ; one is for 

 the bottom, theother two for the sides. Now, the sides overlap the 

 central piece, and are bolted to it with wooden rivets. It occurred, 

 therefore, to Captain Burton that this canoe is but the central fragment 

 of the old boat, and that the lateral holes received the bolts whereby 



E. I. A. PHCC. — VOL. IX. 2 F 



