[Vannin Lior (Yn Lioar Manninagh) Vol 1 No 1 pp23/4]

QUERIES.

ARCHAEOLOGY.

No.1.—" CARNANE BRECK." Can any reader tell me of any book giving a reliable description of the Carnane Breck, in Kirk Maughold.— Harropdale.

2.—" PLACE NAMES." What progress has been made by the Committee appointed to inquire about Manks Place-names ?—J. S.

FOLK LORE.

3.—The old people in the Island speak of the 28th March as "Patermas." What is meant by this ?—A .M.C.

4.—What is the origin of the blowing of horns at Weddings? Is it peculiar to the Isle of Man ?—W. Morris.

GEOLOGY.

5 — MEGACEROS HIBERNICUS. In what part of the Curragh, and, by whom was the renowned specimen now in Edinburgh Museum discovered? There is some obscurity about the question which documentary evidence might clear up.—John Spanton.

BOTANY.

6.Can any of our members afford information on the following plants given on the authority of one McNab in "New Botanists’ Guide," 1837,—Sedum rhodiola, DC. (?Peel), Saxifraga aizoides, L. ?—Flos.

SPORT.

7.—"ANGLING." Why do not the Fishery Board do something with the Funds in hand? I believe they have now £100 or £00 in the Bank, and would suggest that the time has arrived for some of it to be expended in stocking the streams.—F1Y.

8.—" SHOOTING." Can you tell me what time the second flight of Snipe reach the Island? I presume they are birds returning North to breed.—W.B.

REPLIES TO QUERIES.

"MEGACEROS HIBERNICUS." The "renowned specimen" was found in a marl pit in a field on Ballacrosha Quarterland, near where the roads from Ballacrye to Ballamona and the Ballaterson occupation road to the Curragh now meet. A hedge now divides the pit, which is also skirted by a footpath running West from the Ballacrye road, being 20 or 30 yards from the gate. The field is numbered 896 on the Ordnance Map, Sheet IV. Mr. Kewish, the village blacksmith, who so ingeniously set up the skeleton, has hitherto received all the credit, but the following "documentary evidence," not before published, for which we are indebted to the courtesy of Mr Taubman, of Ramsey, seems to show that the merit of its discovery rests with his grandfather, then tenant of the field.

"Whereas, Thomas Kewish and James Taubman, both of Ballaugh, are or presumed to be equally entitled unto the Skeleton of an Elk which was some time ago discovered by them in the said Parish And whereas the said Thomas Kewish is about to leave this Isle with the same Now these Presents Witness that the said Thomas Kewish and said James Taubman hereby agree and are justly bound to bear and and pay equally between them any expence that may be incurred in the prosecution which may be instituted by His Grace the Duke of Athol for the recovery of the s^d Elk in any Court or Courts within this Isle or elsewhere or should the proprietor or proprietors of the lands wherein the same was discovered be inclined at any time to prosecute for the same that in that case they are hereby bound in like manner And the sd Thomas Kewish hereby further covenants and agrees to and with the sd James Taubman that he Kewish will restore and bring back the sd Elk to this Island when thereunto required In Witness whereof the parties have hereunto subscribed their names this 17 May, 1820.

Witnessed by

"JOHN CHRISTIAN. THOS. KEWISH.
"JAMES COWELL. JAMES TAUBMAN."
"Whitehouse, 25 March, 1820.

"Mr James Tubman, "Brewer in Ballaugh.

"Sir,—I as agent and attorney for his Grace the Duke of Atholl, do hereby intimate to you that his Grace will claim, and I for him, as Lord of the Manor, do hereby claim the Skeleton of the Elk lately found by you in the bowels of the Earth in the parish of Ballaugh, and presently exhibiting to the publick by Thomas Kewish, under your direction; and I hereby give you notice that you shall not in the meantime, sell, part with, demolish, injure, or put out of the way the said Skeleton as you shall be answerable at your Peril. JAMES M'CRONE."

"Isle of Man,—James Taubman, Brewer in Ballaugh, having found the Skeleton of an Elk in a marl pit in the said parish of Ballaugh, part of certain lands rented by him, and His Grace the Duke of Atholl, as Lord of the Soil and Manor, having laid Claim thereto, and instituted a suit upon the right of property to the said Skeleton, the parties have come to the following agreement; That is to say, The said James Taubman with the assistance of Thos. Kewish having been put to very considerable expense in putting the Bones of the Skeleton together, James M'Crone on the part of His Grace the Duke of Atholl agrees to refund and pay the said Expense to the extent of Seventy Pounds British, and to give Thomas Kewish Ten Guineas for his trouble to take the Skeleton safe to Edinburgh and put the same together there, His Grace paying the expense of the Carriage, which sums the said James Taubman and Thomas Kewish agree to accept of and they engage to deliver the said Skeleton safe and entire to His Grace at Edinburgh when the money shall be paid; and further it is understood that His Grace shall guarantee the aforesaid James Taubman from any Claim to the said Skeleton by the Landlord of the Pit in which it was found. Dated this seventeenth day of January, 1821.

"Witnesses,

"JOHN ROUTLEDGE. JAMES TAUBMAN.
"WILLIAM MAYNARD. THos. KEWISH.

"JAMES M'CRONE,

"2nd May, 1821."

"The money paid this day by Mr M'Crone.

"JAMES TAUBMAN.
"Thos. KEWISH."