Journal of Proceedings.
cxxxi
Some interesting remarks upon the vexed question of the prolonged
vitality of seeds were made by the President, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Miller
Christy, and thanks were voted to Mr. Clarke for his communication.
Mr. T. V. Holmes then read the " First Report on the Denehole Explora-
tions at Hangman's Wood, near Grays, Essex," by T. V. Holmes, F.G.S.,
and William Cole. The Report was illustrated by a large wall-diagram
of the ground-plan of the Deneholes, enlarged from Mr. Holmes's draw-
ings by Mr. H. A. Cole, and by the collection of specimens gathered together
during the explorations. Mr. Holmes also read a communication from
Mr. Rudler, giving some particulars of the pieces of mill-stone found in
one of the chambers.
[This first report was afterwards incorporated with the report of the
further explorations in 1887, and published in the 'Essex Naturalist,'
(vol. i., pp. 225-276) with maps and diagrams.]
A long discussion ensued, in which Prof. Boulger, Mr. E. T. New-
ton (who made some observations ou the bones found in the pits, see
' Essex Naturalist,' vol. i, pp. 257-259), Mr. Robarts, Mr. W. Cole, Mr.
Miller Christy and Mr. Meldola, took part.
Mr. White, in the course of some observations, read the following
extract from the Rev. J. Sibree's book, ' The Great African Island'
(1880). Chapter on Madagascar :—
"Rice Pits in Madagascar. —Those are dug in the hard red clay soil
of Imerina, and are a bottle-shaped excavation for storing rice in the
husk; a flat stone is placed over the mouth, and then the whole is
covered with earth, so that it is not very easy for a stranger to discover
the store of food.
"These rice pits form a common place of concealment from an
enemy, and many Christians have been hidden in them during the time
of persecution, just as the cisterns of the East are used as hiding-places
(see 2 Sam. xviii. 15-21, describing the stratagem by which Jonathan
and Ahimaaz were concealed in the cistern, and so escaped Absalom's
servants)."
Mr. Sibree also remarked in the course of an address at Union Chapel,
Islington, on Sunday, April 15th, 1883, that these rice pits were used as
secret chapels by the converts to Christianity during the persecutions.
Mr. White stated, that in reply to his enquiries respecting these pits,
Mr. Sibree had kindly sent the following additional information :—
'' I had not noticed any account of the underground workings near
Grays, in Essex, and am astonished to hear of their size and great depth.
We have nothing, so far as I know, of anything like their size in Mada-
gascar, and I fear I cannot give you much information that is of any
value, but I will endeavour to reply to your queries seriatim :—
"1. 1 have never measured any rice pits in Imerina, the central pro-
vince, but judging from those I have peeped into I should fancy them to
vary from 12 to 17 or 18 feet deep, bottle-shaped ; 10 to 13 or 14 feet in
largest diameter, and about a couple of feet or less at the mouth, which
is usually closed by a flat stone, and often by earth again, so that it is
not easy for a stranger to find them.
" 2. There are no means of descent but by putting down a rude