GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 430, 17 December 1856, Page 8

GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY.

Of (he various sections ot the British Association for the Advancement of Science which j had been holding its annual meeting :;t Chelien- i limn hi the middle of August, not the least ; interesting has he-en that of geography and e«h- j noktirr. Anioi:? the papers rend, a notice of one j or two of the more interesting- and prominent j may not be unacceptable : — j Ti - » inn- i\ nn err ri ] P Ai j'l - 1 I »] Gi m I ; pf II - M •»' , o u»*K lv k nC^ i* z -i i oa' -io h\- Xl ih t,i i , f > \ j: iiO 1 ip '{ i' li h 1 >_% t j: o t k i1 ci c^il--c •" - «. >- ">u ' c i\c n - tO- 1 » "\ J(1 li 1 i Ui-uAwX 1 11 i C ""■ A !■ *<<-!' -T ''-'(.t- Oi tl "1H >.nt c t <. P ' T< co ''^t I\\ -.'-ioi- «- 0 r'j 1 "- "- ''Li ■>! \ i 80-j' o ru- o «. '" l n ' -1 ii' ii mr *•• o T i (.1 •> Jh"" e 1- k ' ] ' •>. i -m i I>m ?">' mol 1' 1-. % '' - it - i « h_ i i d t1 «=e - w Pic \ ' ul r d' \ i \-> P.' 1 c -^ *i 15 "r -1 t- n - 1 0 ' I^s> O Ini t 1^" t - *' ].. t? (Vl^ ' ■.' d i s 1' ' 7 ' m*. "> < J list tcll *t l v i ' 1 - 'i i 1 « Ih pr, > ... 1... X,,^.h ... i !...,, vO t.ie h^e i «. " c t ti k-i i,'v1 "> i » < i X i - fu ii». i c>' 3 f %< V * 'ii n Tl r , • i T, 1 : ft ' n ii ' I t (. D v ■■ .I''l r 1 , , k I<l t 1 «-< JO b i ♦ (' j 11 1 f I x ( 1 . \ I t'-'J"- • ■■' •- •■■• ' -•■•-■ ■-> -■■ ]j, t' ( ] 1 , I 3 .• ii,' 3 ' '' J _ j 1 * < 1 < < , 1"* 1 ' ' ' , f , J • ]• '1 r , ,

the waves) extending to a distance of about four miles, and terminating in a huge artificial mound, surrounded by a circular wall of stones placed regularly together without cement. This hill is placed upon the inner vallum or barrier of the Hosphorian empire, and the work still exists in many places in an entire state, having a ditch in front and passing across the peninsula to the sea of A/'.oif. Some distance further is ihe second vallum or boundary,—the outermost vallum which separated the Bosphorians from the country of the Tauri being placed between Arabot and Theodi si:i. About iifty years before Christ this colony became subject to Koine, or rather to a satrap of the I'om.m empire, from the circumstance of the l?osphorian Icings, who were also rulers of Fontits, having been subdued by this people in Asia. In the year a7f> of our era the eolonv was utterly annihilated by the Huns, liarbarous hordes succeeded one upon another thereafter until anno doinini 1280. when the Genoese became possessors of the soil, and held it until expelled by the Turks in 1 173, they hemi? in their turn expelled in 1771 by the Russians. The characteristic features around Iverteh are the immense tumuli, or artificial mounds, that abound in this locality, more especially in the second vallum. These sepulchres of the ancient world abound in many places. They are in the form of barrows in England, and cairns in Scotland. Calculated as they are for almr-st endless duration, tlu-y presenv the simplest and sublimest monuments that could have been raised over ihe dead. The si'/.e and grandeur of the tumuli in the neighbourhood "of Kerfch excite astonishing ideas vi the wealth and power of the people by whom they were erected, lor the labour must have be< n prodigious and the expenditure enormous. Specimens of the highest Hellenic-nil- have been discoveredintlie.se tumuli, sueli as sculptures, metal, alabaster, Etruscan vases, glass vessels rotr.arkable for their lightness, carved ivory, coins, peculiarly pleasing on recount of their sharpness and finish, and trinket;; executed with a skill that would vie with our best workmen. All originals were forwarded, to the llcnuitage at Si. Petersburg, duplicates being preserved in the museum at Kertch. and tho.-te might have been onsily secured to England en ike- investment of the place by the allies, but with the oxi:i.-p! ion of some bas-reliefs, which, in connection with l-wo other ofiieers. Dr. Hacnherson transmitted to the British Museum, the whole of these rare treasures were barbarous!v made away with. The local tradition is thai these tumuli wore raised over ths remains and were int.er.dod to perpetuate th-; memory of the kings or rulers who heldswayo vcr tl:ecolujii.-;ts. and thatthe earth washearjeduDon them annuallvon tl)eaiiniver;;arv

tie put «. i , (1 <S \ i t ' KS, (< 1 1 ''I \ ] i 1 N )i id Phn'r „ 1 ' . 0 1' l v (< ie 1 o i i \ i ] di i i t ]i ' ' _. ■■ < i 1 ' ! 1' ii i 0' tll,'lj ' ! ( 1 1 r ' )(>,'' }>t '"o l1) I(^ x,tli ii \ j t ( 1 , 1 !<)(!>'( | 1 V ' ll « , « 1 I 1 ), I ) 1 i'IS - / v i ii_, *i]o to > J i. 1 ( i U 1 111 ]| I < |,f n i Ml:>j 1 1 1 t , loi ' 1 1 JI ! 'I 1111 I 1 L < il 1 I ' 41 ( ' 11! 1 <! f'! i ] 1 ' ' 'i" ' l' , M ( ill ' <. J i ) 1 I \ fi I 111 i! . t t ■^ '3 ! ) » ill1 i ki ! i n ' i *■ (ii i< ' « '|(! I ' i i , '• » * ♦ « J^ df 11 ' > i < u\ i i ) 1 ] ! i n i i i 'sS v i '( fl u \ | (,| 1 ' I ' i(i i i i ; ' ' i I 1-I lit] j, n( t '-'l,i 1 j'l 1 | jl v ' 3 ( *Jo ' o In i(\ ( \ Jl! <- ' '\ » 1 I -. IH\ IK \ '''''''<1i I , \ 111 1 1 ] y ' J ' ' ] Ml ' ]((,<!, '■ ' s J t i I <a lii ' i ' » ' <i 11 i, i^ 111 ' H * \l' N - lip 51 ' i <i ( i ' \ ill ' ° ( \ o hi» o ii i i, t- a

Greeks, who :'.l\v:iys respoeiedfhe religion off.iio countries they had conquered. ;m<l who, in process of" time, imbibed to a certain extent their customs and observances, appear to have adopted this Scythian mode of burial. Instead, however, of placing their magistrates or vulera in "a deep, square fosse" dug in the earth, they built icmbs, and over those raided the conical hill. All of these tumult have been examined. The Genoese explored the largest anil most valuable, and flu* Hnssian Government have also carried on explorations with tmceei-'s. Selectiiv those which promised hesf. assisted by Major Crease, Royal Engineers, J)r. "i\laephei\son has carefully explored these tumuli. In .some the tomb \v:is found above* the natural surface, and in some heneaih it. Some were arched in the Egyptian, others in the modern style. Square flags resting on each oilier in the centre, and supported by a niche in the side w:.dl, supported a few : others had ilat roofs, while occasionally no masonry was discovered. Fragments of bracelets, which v.ere exhibited in the room, were found in one of the tumuli. Having descended many feet under the natural surface, he came upon the bed of ashes. The bones of a horse, human sklelon, and oilier remains were also met with : and on removing th c masonry, lihuhe and bronze coins were picked tip in niches between the stones. Having worked at this tumulus for two mouths without success, he turned his attention to Mons Mithridates. The whole of this hill, from its base to its summit, and. the spur extending from it to a distance of three miles, is com nosed of broken pottery and debris of every de.-criplion to a depth of from ten to a hundred feet < vcr the natural clay hill, The height am? sue oi'this Milesian work are so enormous that it is seimely possible to believe it to be the result of human labour, and it must have been the work of ages to have conveyed the surface soil .from the plains below to raise it and the hcighkouring heights to the present elevation. On tho top of this hill is a rude chair, cut otit of the rode, and a hollow resembling a sacrificial altar. He commenced his operations on the sides, of these rocks and came to excavations cut out of the stones, c.ivl probably the abode of the Tauri. and which had been converted info tombs by the Milesians. These tombs had, however, been explored; but he secured several specimens of the handles of amphone, with the names of Greek magistrates stamped thereon, and a lew coins witli the efiigy of Pun, or the Greek ruler for the time being, represented thereon, with the figure of a griffin, which was the emblem of the city, on the reverse. Not far from 3lons Mithridutes he camo upon a portion of an aqueduct which probably conveyed watc-r to the acropolis. It was formed of concave tiles, and one of them be exhibited to tli» meiJiMg. Alter describing the result of some of hi;; labours, he proceeded to state that beneath an extrusive sloping ariiflci:il tumulus, running ai: right angles with the ridge, extending northwards fn_i:n Mony Uliflmdatcs, ho

came upon a mass of rubble masonry, beyond which wfit; a dm-.v leading to an arched chamber, h'.tili, under the side <<:' the mound. This led to a Innrvr t.-l!ai!il.!i.-r, whh-h was also arched. The v»';il3;,- of tho larger chamber were marked ofi' in squares, with bore ami there flowers, birds, and gn>h-Krji;e ii^-tu".'.-;. Over tho entrance to this chamber were painted two figures of gvillins rampant. Tv.'u hun-emon —one person in authority, and the other his aLteiHiani carryingl his spc-ar-— wl-w nuli'ly s^a-h-hed on ot:o of tin: walls. Alter w.r.<> c;:p!urat ion, the slide ton of a liorse w:i:; /'mind, r.i;'.r wliich lay .•>. linmr.n idreletoi! ; and coisUnuing bin researehos. he struck upon a tomb cut out of the solid rock. Not i:<r iVuiii t'-is a n:-.;j!!v-r oxeflvation in the reck \v;i'.; 'iifrov.nd, aud, cli-'anng1 the suriaco, the rovlc w:■>:-: found to 1,-i> hewn out tlnvo feet iii width,, tu'clv.-.- in length. 11 civ ]•, frame upon a sk'-k-fon o!'a hor:--'\ and, a lew icei further on, an upri-rht ikig lour iVt.-l high was fomul placed ova1 the* t;!;traiu't: of a tomb cut out of the calcareous chiv. Tho (oral) was of a semi-circular form, :;Tid he: found on cistcrin^ that tho fluoi' v,-a:i covered wish beautiful pt:]jl'K-s and shells!, f-ueh as are miv: fotiud on the shores of tho Bea oi'A/.oir. The duKt of the human fVaint 1, posHf'Kj;in/j ;-:till tho i'orjii of man, lay on ths floor. The bones had rrumbleil info dust, and tho Bpace occupied by I h<.: head did not exceed tho ;:r/.e. of f hi:*palm "of i he baud, thfi mode in wh.ich the e !iV <-h;p ; :d the body, and the knots »n<r la;;{.eniur.:-:i by which they were bound, bvin;,' <>:;::.;iy"trac.;.-d:lr' in the 'dti;,t. Several bodies were discovered, and at the head of each

was a glass bottle, and in one of those bottles ] was discovered a liotlo wine. A. cup and a . laeryrnatory of the same material, and a lamp, • won; placed in a small niche above each body, • A coin and a lew enamelled beads were placed in Ihe bl't hand, and in the right a number of walnuts. Other similar tombs were* explored, and various specimens of pottery, personal orna- . inents, vessels of glass, coins, beads, and other • objects of interest were found. The whole of these were exhibited in the room, ;md appeared to cx'..:it2 the greatest curiosity. Dr. Macpherbop than gave in det/iil the progress, of his furl her vos'-vrrclies in other tumuli, which wore of a most interesting chrracter, and, at the conclusion of his paper, was much applauded. The section was most numerously attended. VESUVIUS AND ITS EIiUPTIONS. At the meeting on Monday, Mr. i\ D. Hartland read a paper on Vesuvius and its eruptions, and alter an interesting description of the geo- : graphy and early eruptions of Vesuvius, which he illustrated by mo^t splendid series of drawings and specimens'of Java, proceeded to give the following1 account of the last eruption:—The 5 Ltk and last eruption of Yesuviue took place on the Ist of May, 1855. The warning; of its approach was given eaily in January, by the U)-"^ing of a now crater at the summit of the c•, Jb, between the old one and the city of Nrjples, and directly across the route of ascent, This crater differed from the others, insomuch as it was neither sulphurous in its character nor was it of the usual chimney form. It was from GO to 80 yards wide, and a slight smoke issued from its blackened sides ; after its appearance the report of an immediate eruption was spread and k<jpt up without intermission for many months, but on Monday the 30Lh of April, the symptoms were so apparent that the guides declared to a party then making the ascent the number of hoard it would be before it occurred. On Tuesday the Ist of May, Vesuvius was invisible at Iviples, and it was not till the afternoon that the Let became known that the eruption had commenced; a rush was then made for Santa. Luoia, the side of I^aples from which, the mountain can best be seen, and here the truth became apparent, as the mountain was blazing from several parts. Upon accomplishing the ascent, and after passing the Hermitage, the intense iieat betrayed the approach of the burning element : and after leaving various crsesides of lire, down which half-melting blocks of lava were dashing at a pace to overcome fill resistance, the current of the eruption was reached and resembled a liquid iiery river rushing from the side of the cone, and apparently fed from an orifice about halt-way up it, which, amid ilar.ies of tire, was throwing out stones to an immense height., accompanied by volumes of dense smoke, while all below was clear, and the l-iva at times even assumed a bright phosphocie blue. This was the most magnificent pnrt of the scene, as the ascent of the cone did r.ot pay the risk and trouble. During the scene daylight dawned,ni>d so earnest bad been the attention given to it by the thousands assembled on the mountain that ,al'"-aough a perfectly visible eclipse of the moon incurred during the time it passed with iew exception? unobserved. The eruption continued till nenr the end of the month, and before its close eleven cones were in active operation, and the discharge from which was so groat that at one time <>, total Hilling in of the mountain was decided. Tiiu discharge almost unaccompanied by tk«j ejection of .stones or asl.Cj was the peculiarity of this eruption.

INTKUESTTXG (IFOLOGTOATi URM.VINS IN DEVON. A pnp?r hns also hen read in this section Vy Mr. Vivian, of Torquay, on "the earliest traces of human renruns in Kent's Cavern, especially ilin' knives and arrow-heads, beneath thestal:).^mitic floor." The peculiar interest of this subject co!ss::.;t'^cl in its hai'v^ the link between geology and antiii'.iitie>--.:ni<l 'i he e;.-rt •- hii-y allorded ly tlio cnr.fliiion in wliirli the remains are ibnnd of their relat-ive a^e, the successive deposits Ihmih? gealeil up •/;/, siiit by th« droppings ol" carhotmte (if'liino, whltili assume tin*1 i'onn ol'slaliiymitc. Tim sources from winch the statements in tiie j)ii|»er wiirt> obtained were ])i'iticipiilly the oi'i^-uial milimsci'ipt memoir of the late llcv. J. WEiit'rv, K'.vi.»S. w'nich is deplored by Professor Owuii, in his J<\).*si/ Jl/ji '■>nmtflia, imd by o,ther v/riters, as lost to science, but which has been irecovun d by Mr. Vivian, and was produced before the seel ion; also the report of the r.ubconunittet' "S iho Tonjimy Naftv-0. Misfory fcioci'jty r.nd hia own researches. We hi'.ve not

space for tlio interesting statements contained in the paper, or the extracts from the manuscript which were read, beyond the following brief* summary of Mr. Vivian's conclusions which were mainly in accordance with those of Mr. M'Enory. The cavern is situated beneath a hill about a mile from Torquay and Bafficoinbe, extending to a circuit of about 700 yards. Itwas first occupied by the bear (ursus syelasus) and extinct hyena, the remains of which, with the bones of" elephants, rhinoceros, deer, &c, upon which they preyed, wore strewn upon the rocky floor. By some violent and transitory convulsion a vast amount of the soil of the surrounding country was injected into the cavern, carrying with it the hones and burying them in its inmost recesses. Immediately upon its subsidence, the cavern appears to have been occupied by human inhabitants, whose rude flint instruments are found upon the mud beneath the stalagmite. A period then succeeded during which the cavern was not inhabited until about half of the floor was deposited, when a streak containing burnt wood a;:d the bones of the wild boar and badger were deposited, and again the cave was unoccupied, either by men or animras, the remaining portion of the stalagmite being, both above and below, pure and unstained by soil or any foreign matter. Above the floor have been found remains of Celtic, early British and Roman remains, together with those of more modern date. Among the inscriptions is one of interest as connected with the landing of "William 111. on the opposite side of the b; y, ' W. Hodges, of Ireland.. 1688." In the dis us-ion which followed, and in which Sir Henry Eawlinson, the Seeretai-y of the Ethnological Society, and others took part, the position of the flints beneath the stalagmite seemed to be admitted, although contrary to the generally received opinion of the most eminent geologists, thus carrying back the first occupation of Devon to

very high antiquitj', but uot such as to bo at variance, with Scriptural chronology—the deposit of stalagmite being shown to have been much more rapid at those periods when the cavern was not inhabited by the greater discharge of cai'bonic acid gas. Without attempting to affix with aiij" ccrctiiiicj* more t-isn a rel3.uivs date iO these several points, or forming a scriptural interpretation upon natural phenomena, which, as Bacon remarked, too often produces merely a false religion and a fantastic philosophy, Mr. Vivian suggested that there was reason for believing that the introduction of the mud was occasioned not by the comparatively, tranquil Mosaic Deluge, which spared the olive and allowed the ark to float without .miraculous interposition, but by the great convulsion alluded to in the first chapter of Genesis which destroyed the pre-existing race of animals—most of those in this cavern being of extinct species, and prepared the earth for man and his contemporaries