The Maunganuian.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 23 July 1915, Page 2

The Maunganuian.

The following is a further extract from that very original phblication, “ The Maunganuian ” from which it is copied by kind permission of Mr Tom. Rohm son. We venture to believe it will be read with delight by all.

A Fragmenent of Ancient History.

While excavations were being carried out in the mighty ruins of that wonderful old-time city, London, on the sight of what was probably the public archives, several documents, preserved in metal cases, dated A.D. 1920, were brought to light. The following translation of one, which has found its way into our hands seems to deal with some minor tribal quarrel of those days.

THE COMING OF THE FIFTHS. Chapter LVII.

1. —And it came to pass in the reign of good King Geor., a great war arose between the tribe of the Brits and the tribe of the Huns and Lo the Brits did smite them opponents —the Huns —hip and thigh, so that they became as a tree that is fallen, and of low repute upon the earth. 2. —But, verily, it went hardily with the Brits for a time, so that the great men of the tribe did speak among themselves, and one Kitc i., son of Warr, spake thuswise : “ Lo, it hath come to pass, my brethren that the hand of the enemy is heavy upon us. Wish ye not that the tribe of Bill, the Masseite, be asked ? ” But when Kitch. had spoken thus the great men did send a fleet messenger whose name was Cable, to Bil, the Masseite, and charged him to say: “ Come over and help us and that right speedily. ”

3--Now. the tribe of Bil dwelt in a far off country, whose name was Noosealand, and it was a goodly place, fruitful and of great prosperity. And the young men of the country were many and great warriors withal ; also the young maidens were fair to look upon, and, indeed, it was, a joyful place. 3. —And it came to pass when Cable spoke unto Bil his message, Bil called unto him his trusty henchman Jimalan and they spake unto the young maidens, saying: Give uijto us your young men, that we may train them to become great fighters, and help the Brits to overcome their enemy.” But there was exceeding great sorrow among the women of the tribes of Bil, and the namos of Bil and Jimalan became sour in the mouths of the women, and they spake not of them. Then did Bil promise the young men the goodly sum of five shekels per diem, three of which were to be given unto the women, and Lo, there was drying of eyes and the names of Bil and Jimalan became once more of some standing in the land. 5. —Now a great encampment was made at a place called Trent Ham, which means Mudd; and a great man was made captain of the hosts at that place and, the name of him was Kernel, which means Potter. Likewise they gave unto Kernal many henchmen to do his bidding and make the young men into great fighters. And the chiefest of these were Adam, known as Adjutant, Purd, son of Dom, Wilsin, surnamed the Blazingone, and Joubunny, a goodly clerk and worker of miracles; also there was one called Canteen, and one Levi, but they were of lesser note. 6. —And many trained men went forth from Tent Ham to give battle to the Huns, and to a lesser tribe, tho Turks, who rendered allegiance unto the Huns, and did massacre their enemies whom they took in battle. And the trained men did wield their implements of war, the short sword and the shooting spear right valiantly. But, verily, their progress was slow against their enemy, so that the people of his tribe did look sideways at Bil. 7. -But Bil was a man of great spirit, and of much resource, and he did think unto himself right hard. And it came to pass that lie thought of the Fiffthis, a mighty tribe of fighting men, who delt in the silent, places of Nocseland. Therefore ho sent forth messengers to tho Fiffthis, bidding them haste from their creditors and gather at Trent Ham, which was called Mudd. So the Fiffthis, who were named among the men, the Dandies, came in their tens, in their hundreds, in their thousands, and in chariots. And there was a mighty concourse of them, and the whole land was joyful because of their coming. 8. And among tho Fiffthis were nteu of tho company of the Gunnis, who rodo the war chariots into battle, and those who looked to the war-horses, and these last were called Drives and Hardens. Likewise, there

were Teroopas, valiant men who rode astride on war-horses and also could swear mightily. Then came the Bodi-snatchers, men meek and mild of spirit, but of much skill with the weapon called the pillbox. There were also men of the Vetts, of the Armiservas, and of the Sappas, a goodly number of each. And there came with all these a vast company whose name was In-fan-tarv, and these last were great and huge men, skilled in the art of graveicrushin, and great linguists, withal. 9. —And, Lo, the time drew near for the men of the Fiffthis to depart across the sea, and thence do battle against the enemy. Therefore there was much sorrowing and weeping in the land when they went down lo the sea in mighty ships. The young maidens sang songs of praise, the old ones did gather together and bestow on the warriors gifts of garments and food, wherewith to refresh themselves. And when evening time had come the mighty ships put forth into the deep and the place thereof knew them no more.

10. —And it came to pass that the winds blew mightily and the sea rose and the warriors were much cast down within themselves, and cast overboard many of the comforts given unto them by the maidens wherewith to refresh themselves. And they spake among themselves, saying: Oh why did we join the Fiffthis ? Oh, why did we join the Armi? Why did we come in this bally ship?

Because we were bally well

balnii. ” Even the great ones, the captains of the hosts on the ships, were stricken down* Verily, they were all prostrated. There was Parkas, the great kernal, famed as a dreamer; Magwhyer, son of Erin ; Flet, surnamed the Maje, or Bosoveruss ; Stuurt, Bossofthelot; and there was Domi, son of Gan, well used in the arts of goodly raiment; Docsavage, weilder of the pillbox, and a mighty hunter of the appendix ; Cbapp. son of Thorn, a man of goodly life and learned discourse albeit, a great fighter, and Wallis, surnamed joyful one. And there were many others of lesser rank, sore stricken, but withal valiant men. And among these were Jac, a yeoman of sturdy build, from the roadless north. Gordi, son of Forsthe. aud Lufe, the Doughty one, captains among the Hardoas. Todbutler, the adjudger ; Ashi, the bold sailor and catcher of the sly measle, and Mako-Mish, the hairless; Kiark, notamovenow; Sidelis. the runner of Marathons; Hendee, the famous bard and vendor of musical instruments; Gam son of Brili, the holder of sinecures; Elli, son of Don, a man of raiment; Rite a valiant sailor ; Hun son of Tee and Ire son of Gear, beloved of the maidens. Wite the youngest of the chieftains ; Keith son of Unter. a mighty man of deeds; Mak-Mora Mak-Kai, dancer ot Hakas, and Mak-Ray, of the Kelts, and these were men of hot blood and much caution, likewise of pretty wit. 12. —And in those days the ships which conveyed the warriors across the seas put in at divers places to replenish their water and provisions. So the Fiffthis did sojourn awhile on the shores of Albani, a village of Orstralia, and therein dwelt beautious maidens, who were fair to the eye. And, Lo, the warriors straigtht vay forgot the maidens of Noosealand, whence they had come, and so made merry with much music and dancing in this strange land. But the time came when their ships were ready for sea again, and the men of the Fiffthis had perforce to depart, albeit, they loft many tokens behind them of good fellowship among the people of the lands wherein they lnid sojourned.

Here the manuscript is untranslatable, though mention is made of Censor, a high chief, skilled in the use of BUnpensil. We are submitting the papers to Professor Wowser, the eminent authority on ancient England, and hope at a later date to give our readers an opportunity of studying this interesting document of history.