32 
ground with, rude stone implements before tho . extensiv e 
introduction of metals and before the domestication of tie 
ox, they must have left vast numbers of palaeolithic imple- 
ments to be swept away by the waves of the deluge 01 
buried in the river alluvia, and they must also have left be- 
hind extensive excavations and quantities of chipped stones 
in the localities where they quarried and manufactured their 
agricultural tools. All who attach a historical value to the 
Book of Genesis must be prepared for the discovery of such 
remains in beds far older than the oldest Assyrian monuments. 
We have perhaps a hint of the difficulties of the labour 
question in those days, in the saying attributed to Lantech on 
the birth of his son Noah, “ This shall comfort us concerning 
our work and toil of our hands because of the ground which 
the Lord hath cursed.” Whatever the reason of the hope 
expressed, the saying is the groan of a man oppressed by the 
hard labour of manual husbandry, carried on perhaps with 
implements no better than the flint hoes of the ancient 
Americans. 
(I should have stated above that in the paper of Professor 
Rau on “ Agricultural Flint Implements,” he suggests that 
many of the rude implements found in deposits underground 
may be roughly-edged fragments, destined to be made into 
spear or arrow-heads at a future time/* and buried in oidei to 
preserve them in a moist and easily chipped condition. _ In 
any case this habit of the American aborigines of forming 
large deposits of roughly-chipped implements, is of great 
interest with reference to the so-called Palasolothic remains of 
Europe.) 
A discussion ensued, in which the following took part : Vice-Admiral 
E. G. Fishbourne, Rev. J. Fisher, D.D., Mr. T. K. Callard (who considered 
that — what were termed — the Abbeville and Amiens “flint implements, 
which he had seen, did not present indications of having been made by 
man), and the Honorary Secretary (who drew attention to Mr. Parker s 
report on the Somme Valley, Transactions, vol. viii. p. 51 ; and Dr. 
Dawson’s present Remarks as to the “ so-called Palaeolithic remains in 
Europe ” ). 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
