7
LEPORES PALAEOLITHICI: OR, THE HUMOROUS
SIDE OF FLINT IMPLEMENT HUNTING.
[Read April 26th, 1884.]
There is more than one way of acquiring a collection of flint implements. The
best plan is, perhaps, to look after them and find them for one's self. This
method entails a vast amount of walking, great patience, and the power of throw-
ing off disappointment—for flint implements, especially of Palaeolithic age, are
by no means common objects ; they demand a considerable amount of searching
for their acquisition. A second plan is to fraternise with the workmen, and get
the gravel diggers and sifters to look after the flint weapons and tools. The latter
plan saves a great deal of walking, but it often entails a great expenditure of cash.
Gravel diggers are not always finding flint tools, and for an archaeologist to keep
on good terms with gravel diggers and sifters it is necessary for him to be keeping
his hands always in his pocket. Feeing the men and paying high prices for flint
implements is a bad plan, as, when the tools are running short it sometimes causes
men to contemplate forgery.
As regards forgeries, labouring men, as a rule, have not sufficient knowledge
and skill for their manufacture. It is generally the so-called "skilled mechanics"
—the carpenters, the plasterers, the masons, and even the masters and masters'
sons who make the forgeries. These worthies induce the boys and labourers to
sell the fabrications, and then pocket seventy-five per cent, for themselves. The
socialists are quite right when they say it is not the labouring classes who are
interested in shoddy manufactures but their so-called betters or employers.
I have now fraternised with the labouring classes for many years, and I am glad
to give my testimony to their general worth, truthfulness and nobility of character.
The common labourer is often more worthy of trust than the jerry builder, and
the hardworking digger or sifter than the parish gravel contractor.
In intimately mixing with the men, I have at various times seen curious traits
of character, examples of keen insight, gentleness, gratitude, and humour. Some-
times I have, of course, seen the reverse of these qualities, and have even had 
difficulty to avoid a few fights !
At first I paid but little attention to my experiences, but at length I made a prac-
tice of writing down some of the more singular traits and expressions of the men ;
and I have recently thought that (as no one can be always at hard and dry work)
a little play in recording some of my experiences amongst gravel diggers might be
acceptable to the members of the Essex Field Club.
As a rule, gravel diggers don't like "mashers," or gentlemen with lavender kid
gloves, they are not very fond of clergymen, and they object to thoroughbred idlers.
To make a good beginning with strange diggers a man should not be too well
dressed ; he should jump gaily into the pit, and at once begin conversing in a
friendly and familiar manner with the men. A little harmless slang or good
humoured banter sometimes goes a long way.
For many years I have wished to find the remains of Palaeolithic men in the
gravels, sands and brick-earths where the flint tools occur. Sometimes the diggers
have told me that they have really found human bones, but had buried them again.
The men have declined to trade in them. When I have asked the men for a
reason, they have replied, "We don't want to disturb the poor things ; let them
rest in peace—when we sees bones of men and women we always bury them