had so completely destroyed these human bodies; but of twelve coffins found, we got only a nail from one, part of an under jaw, a long bone from another, and a few teeth from a third. This was, however, sufficient evidence to prove that they were really coffins, and that the bodies had been almost entirely destroyed.

I examined the whole locality for coffins, and the last that could be found was opened in the presence of several friends from Lerwick; it turned out to be the most interesting we had yet discovered. Situated rather lower in the peat than the remainder, when we came on it the top appeared more solid, and we soon found it was filled with water, and we proceeded to make a drain and let the water out from the bottom, so as to be able carefully to examine the contents of the coffin. Before letting out the water we observed, on taking up the lid, that a body apparently pretty perfect remained for us. I preserved a portion of the water for chemical analysis. In cleaning the skull and the long bones I found considerable difficulty, and also in separating the skin and muscles of the arm from the bone. I had an easy task in scalping the longsought for treasure, and found that with one grip I had a pretty good wig in my hand.

When the men who dug up this coffin saw the contents, they could not be got to render any further assistance, and declared that the sight and smell had turned their "inside out;" this was, however, purely the effect of imagination. It was with some difficulty I could get them to bring some clean water to me, and to deposit it at some yards distant. I had gone to Lerwick for a packing-case, and the sailors who brought me over hesitated to take back a skeleton, but an offer of a little extra coin of the realm, quite satisfied their consciences.

This coffin was about six feet six inches long, and was made of thicker wood than any of the others. The next in thickness was the one in which the stones with inscriptions were found. In the coffin now under description, we were somewhat surprised to see two pieces of dry peat. Mr. Umfray, of Reawick, made inquiries for me as to this custom, and he was told

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and with the same water; while the others would be continually receiving fresh supplies of water impregnated with acid, and thus all traces of the body and bone would in time vanish.

With regard to the age at which these remains were interred, there seems nothing to induce the supposition that they were at all ancient. The best evidence, too, that they were not very recent, is the fact that there is a little cluster of rude Zetland cottages not two hundred yards distant, and that not "the oldest inhabitant" had the faintest idea that there had ever been anyone buried in this place. They all accepted Dr. Hamilton's explanation, that these long wooden boxes had been buried with treasure. The close proximity of this place, too, with the town of Lerwick, would render it nearly impossible for this to have been used as a graveyard within at all recent times, without some account having been preserved of it. The Rev. Dr. Hamilton has promised to make further inquiries for me from both the people of Brassay Island and Lerwick. For the present, therefore, I have thought it best simply to record the facts without speculating as to their date. How far the inscriptions found in them may help to determine their date is another question. It is, however, just possible that this may not have been the original place of these stones.

In conclusion, I may here state that, in another part of the same island (Brassay), I opened two other graves. These two were both close together in the side of a hill, about a mile south of those before described. I only found coffins with the top and sides having fallen in as before. At the Ness, near Reawick, I also opened the grave of a sailor, who was buried about ninety years ago. In this case there was no coffin, and in digging we merely came on a greasy substance. I turned this over carefully, and underneath was revealed the countenance of a man, with the under jaw having fallen. It was not altogether a pleasant picture, and one turn of the spade effaced all traces of the feature from the dark oily-looking peat.

I have thought it worth while to record these facts. They