The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

A CURIOUS RELIC.

The San Bernardino Times reports the discovery of the
following curious relic of a past age :

"A teamster on the railroad, while bathing in White
Water, some 30 mai s east of San Bernardino, observed
a dark circular object in the stream, which, on being
brought to the surface, proved to ben truly marvellous
piece of workmanship. The article in question is com-
posed of a certain peculiar slate-coloured stone, similar
to that usually employed by the Indians of British
Columbia for the manufacture of pipes, and is not
found anywhere in this State. In form it is
circular, being shaped somewhat like a large dinner-
plate; the bottom for about six inches in dia-
meter is perfectly smooth, and has a circular orifice in
the centre about half-an-inch in diameter. Towards the
rim it presents a singularly convex appearance. This
rim on the outer surface is surrounded with a wreath
of grapevines so faultlessly engraved that even the
most minute fibres of the leaves are clearly outlined.
On the upper surface of the rim is a peculiar border,
composed first of two parallel lines extending around
the entire rim with an interval of about two inches
between the lines. In the centre of these lines run-
ning at right angles, at regular intervals' are smaller
lines converging from the inner ;line tu the form of
quarter 'circles,' meeting in the centre, where they pass
through ovals, ending on the outer line in the centre
of a crescent facing outward; while traveising the
whole is a waving line extending around the centre of
the outer lines. The centre of this curious work, how-
ever, is the most astonishing portion. On it appears
a marvellously beautiful and faultlessly-executed
• wreath of flOvve..s, leaves, vines, and scroll;work,
every bud, leaf, and flower being perfectly natural
and life-like to the minutest details. The whole is
polished in the highest manner, and is as smooth as
glass. - The entire workmanship, in beauty of design
and delicacy of finish, excels the choicest productions
of modern artists, and shows that the people by wh6m
it was executed had reached an advanced , stage of
civilisation. It is almost with a feeling of reverence
that we gaze upon this reli9 of a past race, of whom
no history has yet beep found Oiler than the ruins
scattered on the plains, and the origin and history of
which is enveloped in impenetrable obscurity-, which
probably will never be penetrated. The plate is in a
remarkable state of preservation, owing, no doubt, to
the indestructible quality of the stone of which it is
composed." ' f '
, .
GREAT FLOODS AT AHMEDABAD.

The Special Correspondent of the Times of India writes
from Abmedabad on Sept. 23 :
" The Saburmuttee is a roaring torrent; bridges are'
completely swept away. Trees, live stock, native
houses, forniture, and other debris going down the
river. The pumping engine house washed down.
The compound walls of Shaibag, where the Prince
of Wales is to stay, are washed down, as are also the
out-buildings. The natives have sought refuge in
trees. Your correspondent with Messrs. Pendlebury
O'Connell, Mathew, Hargreaves and others went to
the spot by special train, and the waters rose so
rapidly that the train could not get back, and the party'
were being hemmed in by the water. Your corre-
spondent and companions were upwards of two hours
breast high in the water, and waded and swum five miles,
reaching Ahmedabad at night, Station and camp