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supposed to be derived from the words " Croin," crooked, 
bent, or inclined, and " leac," stone. Hence it is often, but 
erroneously, called " Stone of worship," or "altar," ascribing 
thus the word " Crom " to the stooping or bowing body of 
the worshipper. 
In consequence of its ciunbrous obstruction, it has been 
for the most part removed or broken up for agricultural or 
other purposes, in the more civilised and cultivated parts of 
Europe. It is therefore now only found in desolate and 
secluded situations, except where it has some peculiar local 
protection. From this circumstance, and especially from its 
rude and massive proportions, its construction was ignorantly 
ascribed to supernatural agency. It has been for centuries a 
great archaeological puzzle. But the persevering researches 
of the Rev. W. C. Lukis and Sir Richard Colt Hoare, and 
the practical investigations of modern antiquarians, have 
removed all doubts as to its use ; and it is now conceded 
on all hands, that it has been generally used as a tomb or 
grave for the dead. 
When I resided in Trinidad, about thirty years ago, the 
mountainous and inaccessible districts of that Island were 
inhabited by the aboriginal and now nearly extinct tribe of 
Caribs. I took great interest in observing the habits and 
character of that curious race of human beings, and no 
custom of theirs impressed me more than their mode of 
disposing of their dead. Soon after life departed, and 
while the body was yet warm, and the limbs pliant, it was 
tied up into the smallest possible compass. The legs were 
bound up on the thighs, and the elbows fixed between the 
knees. The face, which had been previously smeared with 
some reddish paint, was fastened down upon the open palms 
of the hands, and the hair thickly greased with some animal 
oil or fat. The body was then tightly swathed in a long 
piece of coarse cloth. After these preparations it was left 
k 2 
