The San Francisco call., 1910-08-23
BIDS Of ANCIENT
SAXONS BY CANDLE
When Tallow Stick Burned Out
Bidder at That Time Sc
cured Outlet

Exactly century ago was held the
last allotment of the common land be-
longing to the old world village of
Puxton, in Somerset. The origin of the
quaint and curious ceremony that was
observed is lost in obscurity but there
is reason to believe that it dates back
to the time of the conquest. 1t is prob
able, further, that with some slight
differences it was observed by the Sax
ons, and that the Normans adopted it
as matter of course.
1t was the custom early in the morn
ing Of the Saturday before Old Midsum-
mer day to ring one of the bells of
PuXton church. This was to summon
all land owners and others in the dis
trict, who possessed any rights in the
Dolemoors. together with their tenants,
and all who were directly or indirectly
interested in the allotment, to assemble
at the church for the purpose of in
specting the ancient chain that was
used for measuring the land. In the
presence of as many as cared to attend
the length of the chain was checked,
in order to make certain that it had
neither been heightened nor shortened
by interested persons, says the London
Globe
one end of the chain was held on
mark a the foot of the chaneel arch
and the links were stretched out in a
straight line through the nave toward
the west door under the tower where
the last link should lie on a mark cut
In one of the stones of the floor The
actual length of the chain was 54 feet
or II feet less than that of an ordinary
land measuring chain. All who at
tended the summons We're permitted to
inspect the chain, and after all present
had expressed themselves satisfied with
It's accuracy the chain was given into
the care of those appointed to be meas
urerS for the day.
For the next part of the ceremony "a
apples were chosen and prepared under
the scrutiny of all present by being
marked in q particular way Five of
the apples bore markes termed 'pok
axes, four bore crosses two were
marked with the rude representations
of pitchforks, and the 13 others were
marked respectively with signs to
which the following names were given:
Two pills three pills. -four pills."
five pills." seven pills. -four oxen and
mare" "hares tall" ducks nest"
horn" oven "eviI," she'll and
hand reel 1t would be interesting to
know what the significance of these
terms originally was; each allotment
holder was known by one or other of
the apples were the signs manual, as it
were, of the different holders.
APPLES PLACED IN BAG
After the apples had been prepared in
this manner they were placed in a large
bag, closed at the top, with the eXcep-
tion of q small space which just per-
mitted the apples to enter They were
then well shaken and the bag and its
contents were given into the care of a
boy who had been chosen to accompany
the measurers. The two Dolemoors
were divided permanently by stout oak
posts firmly fixed in the ground at reg
ular distances. Each division was
termed as a furlong, but it is doubtful
whether this was an exact measure
ment, or merely an arbitrary express
sion. When everything was in readi-
ness the measurers, followed by the
apple bearers and procession of in
terested spectators. walked to the
moors, and beginning at the first of the
furlong posts, measured the ground
with the chain until one acre had been