Mani, the Sacred Jewel (Shansi in Chinese; Shinshi in Japanese) is that one of the Sapta Rapta (Seven Treasures) which is the emblematic symbol of the Buddha and his doctrine. Defined as a supernatural pearl, spherical, self-luminous, and of unfading lustre, it sheds a brilliant light on all its surroundings and is therefore an appropriate simile for the Enlightenment which Buddhists seek. In the Iconography of the Far East this fabulous gem is an attribute of several persons in the Ruddhist hierarchy; the principal one being K'shitigarhba (Chin: Ti Sang, Jap: Jizo Bosatsu) who is the Bodhisattva of Compassionate Help in the same way that Avalokitesvara (Chin: Kwanyin, Jap: Kwannon) is the Bodhisattva of Mercy. The latter may at times be shown as a holder of the Jewel—see for an example, the well-known Yumadono Kwannon of Horiuji (1)—but more often her chosen attribute is a slender vase. One of the sixteen Arhats (Chin: Lohan, Jap: Rakan) is also represented holding the Sacred Jewel in his hand. This is Panthaka, the tenth on the list, whose constant companion is a Dragon—the divinely appointed guardian of the Gem. Sometimes a Dragon alone holds the Gem in his claw: sometimes the Gem appears in solitary splendour with two Dragons in the role of heraldic supporters on either side. The illusion that they are fighting for it (like the Lion and Unicorn) is due to the querulous expression Dragons habitually wear, and not necessarily to rivalry.

The excavation here briefly described was carried out at the end of the summer of 1945 and though not yet completed, the results already are of such interest as to make publication of this short report desirable. The work is being conducted by Michael J. O'Kelly, M.A., Curator of the Cork Public Museum, and is being financed by means of a special grant made by the Governing Body of University College, Cork.

The fort lies on the shoulder of a prominent knoll in the range of hills which divides the eastern part of Cork Harbour from a rich agricultural hinterland extending northward to include the valleys of the rivers Bride and Blackwater. Nearby modern towns of importance are Fermoy, 12 miles to the northwest, and Midleton, 9 miles to the south. The latter stands at the head of a narrow estuary which runs northward out of the eastern bight of Cork Harbour and probably marks the point at which seafarers-possibly arriving direct from the continent-disembarked to trade with the established settlers of the district, or to found bridge-heads for subsequent marauding incursions into the rich terrain of the interior. That the latter was a possibility forseen by the early agriculturalists of east Cork is shown by their careful selection of a strategic site. The builders, who were members of a peaceful farming community (as is shown by the presence of agricultural implements on the site), placed their outpost so that it dominated the main pass which gave access to their territory from the south and the sea-the direction from which they believed their enemies were most likely to come.

The following notes are the result of an investigation undertaken as a bypath from he study of Egyptian shipping, in which questions arose as to the possibilities and probabilities of various constructional details, and the extent of the technical capacity available for the solution of shipbuilding problems. They were prepared in war-time, in England, when it was not possible to examine any actual specimens and are therefore based entirely on published data, descriptions, drawings and photographs. The purpose of the investigation was not concerned with the uses to which the Egyptians put their woodworking ability, or questions of artistic design or decorative or religious intention, but was solely concerned with their methods and means of fabricating wooden articles and structures, together with the associated employment of certain other materials which became integral parts of the structures.

In the course of many years of archaeological research in South Africa, cut off by the length of the continent from the European scene, various local problems, unrelated to those of Europe, necessarily arise. One of the most persistent has been that of the origin and age of coastal fishing enclosures whose distribution extends sporadically from the mouth of the Berg river in St. Helena Bay (northwest of Cape Town) to Kosi Bay on the Zululand coast, and perhaps even further in either direction. The known coastal range is well over 1000 miles. Any complete solution of the various problems raised must necessarily be shelved until petrol supplies permit the careful excavation of a series of surrounding midden deposits.

The enclosures are known locally as vywers (pronounced much as the English ‘favours’) or sometimes as viskraals, literally dams, or fish-corrals, and we can speak of them in English as tidal fish-traps. Happily their use continues, in a somewhat sporadic way, at several of the sites, and we can still study the methods used. In brief, the enclosure is built up as a dry-stone wall to such a height that normal high tides will cover the vywer and permit fish to swim freely over the enclosed area. As the tide sinks, the water runs out through the interstices between the stones, while the fish are trapped and can be clubbed and caught by hand. It is a simple application of the system used for netting fish, though here the dry-stone walling provides the imbrications.

It is not generally recognized how important a part was played by birds in the guidance of early voyagers when sailing on the uncharted seas of the ancient world, and how their regular migrations year by year and season by season, along definite routes have contributed to the discovery of many lands and isolated islands. We know that Columbus made his first American landfall by noting the south-westerly direction taken by great flocks of small field-birds seen flying overhead in the evening towards land as yet out of sight of those aboard the ships; we know, too, that the significance of their flight was at once recognized, for did not Pinzon point out its meaning to his crew by his remark ‘Those birds know their business’ (Morison, 1841, 664-5)?

How true his words were we now know, for it is about the time of year (October) when Columbus saw these battalions of birds darkening the sky, that certain species of landbirds set out from the eastern shores of North America by a southerly route, via Bermuda, to seek a warmer climate and a more plentiful supply of food.

Concentrations of small circular ditches are among the most difficult to explain of the numerous remains shown by soil-marks and crop-marks in the Silt Fens. The writer first noticed a group south-east of Fifties Farm, March (Cambs.) when on a practice flight in early 1944, and then took it to be a group of barrow circles like those known in the Upper Thames country (1) and elsewhere (2). Later experience showed that there were so many circles—up to 30 or 40—crowded together in each group and the groups themselves so numerous, that this explanation no longer seemed adequate. Twenty-two groups of circles and two isolated examples were noted, but there must be very many more, as it was not possible to make a systematic search, nor even to keep particulars of all the sites observed. Most of the circles were shown by soil-marks.