Dec. 1861.] 



Druidic Antiquities. 



211 



how closely this relic resembles the amulets of the Druids found in 

 the barrows of England. 



This amulet crystal was variously shaped. Sometimes^ like 

 a round bead of glass ; at others, like a crescent or glass boat ; 

 now it was denominated a glass circle, and now a glass house. In 

 each case it was a powerful talisman of protection; and its colour 

 was merely the mark of distinction between the different orders. 

 The Druid's crystal was white, the Bard's sky blue ; the Eubates' 

 green, and the aspirants' amulet was distinguished by a mixture 

 of all these colors. The secret of manufacturing them rested solely 

 with the Druids. 



A splendid variety of this amulet was found by Sir R. C. Hoare 

 in a large tumulus in the vicinity of Stonehenge, which Stukeley 

 distinguished by the name of Bush barrow. It consists of a 

 curious perforated stone of the kind called tabularia, moulded into 

 the form of an egg, and highly polished, and containing in the 

 veins of the fossil an intricate mass of small serpents entwined 

 together in every possible combination. It is likely that these egg 

 shaped crystals had some reference to the Anguinum or serpents 

 egg, an object of Druidical superstition. 



Bush-barrow also contained a rich breast plate of gold, in shape 

 of a lozenge, and highly decorated with carved work, and devices. 

 I was assured when on the Neilgherries, that a species of breast 

 plate, or gorget, had been found in a Neilgherry cairn, and which 

 was about the size of those used by the Druids. 



In speaking of the Earthern ware urns found in the barrows of 

 the Neilgherry Hills I stated that vessels of the same kind had 

 been raised from the Deverel barrow in Dorsetshire. 1 have since 

 learnt from Dr. Henry's History of Great Britain that " many urns 

 of earthern were, supposed to have been the workmanship of the 

 ancient Britons, have been found in barrows in different parts of 

 Britain." The articles found in Silbury Hill, and neighbouring 

 barrows by Dr. Stukeley are similar to those I discovered in the 

 barrows of the Neilgherries, consisting amongst other things 

 of spear -heads of iron, knives, gold rings, and fragments of golden 

 ornaments, several large beads of amber, some of glass enamelled ; 

 some were of a white colour, others blue and azure, 



