Sun-dials 
359 
only told the time o' the day, but afforded gratifica- 
tion, elicited investigation, and awakened sentiment 
in all who beheld it. 
A similar use of a vertical pole as a primitive 
gnomon for a sun-dial seems to 
have been common to many un- 
civilized peoples. In upper 
Egypt the natives set up a palm 
rod in open ground, and arrange 
a circle of stones or pegs around 
it, calling it an alka , and thus 
mark the hours. The plough- 
man leaves his buffalo standing 
in the furrow while he learns the 
progress of time from this sim- 
ple dial — and we recall the 
words of Job, “ As a servant 
earnestly desireth a shadow/' 
The Labrador Ind- 
ians, when on the hunt or 
the march, set an upright 
stick or spear in the snow, 
and draw the line of the 
shadow thus cast. Thev 
y 
then stalk on their way ; 
and the women, heavily 
laden with provisions, 
shelter, and fuel, come slowly along two or three 
hours later, note the distance between the present 
shadow and the line drawn by their lords, and know 
at once whether they must gather up the stick or 
spear and hurry along, or can rest for a short time 
Sun-dial at Morristown, New Jersey. 
