attributed to its provision and means, whereby tradition is reduced to a science^T-' A continuation of this mode of writing may be foimd in the Runic, or log abnanick of the Northern States of Europe, in which the engraving on square pieces of wood, Ika been continued to the present time. The boors of (Esel, and other islands of the Baltib, continue the practice of making these rude calendars for themselves. Two curioos specimens of the Runic or log almanacks, are in the collegiate Ubrary, at Manchesl^. A fac simile of an CEsel almanack is in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 82, p. 626.
In the Gentleman's Magazine, vol 80, p. 308, there is a notice of a singular custom^ which still prevaib at Pamber, near Basingstone, in Hampshire. The conrt-Ieet holden « annually for that manor, is opened tub dio, in a small piece of ground called Lady-mead, , which belongs to the tithing-man for the year. Thence an adjournment is made to a neighbouring public house. The proceedings of the court are recorded on a piece of m
wood, called a tally, about three feet long, and an inch and a half square, furnished every
year by the steward. One of these singular records, was once produced in evidence in a i
e, refers to the score and the tally, (Henry VI. pt. ii.) ,
law-suit at Winchester. Shakspeare,
The mode of keeping accounts by tallies, or clefk pieces of wood, in which the notches
are cut on one piece conformably to the other, one part being kept by the creditor, the ^>J
other by the debtor, is still kept practised in many parts of England, especially among J
the bakers in Warwickshire. A tally continues to be given by the Exchequer, to those 1
who pay money there upon loans ; hence the origin of the teller, or tally-writer of the
Exchequer ; and also, of the phrase to tally, to fit, to suit, or answer exactly.
Bishop Nicholson, in his English Historical Library, remarks, the Danes, as all other ancient people in the world, registered their more considerable transactions upon rocks, or on parts of them, hewn into various shapes and figures. On these they engraved such inscriptions as were proper for their heathen altars, triumphal arches, sepulchral monuments, and genealogical histories of their ancestors. Their writing of less concern, as letters, almanacks, &c. were engraven upon wood.
In Blenkingia, a Swedish pronnce, there is a road cut out of the solid rock, whicl contains an 'inscription in Runic characters, that is said to have been engraven thereby order of King Harold Hyltetand, in honour of his father, about the commencement i the seventh century. There are a great number of ancient Runic monuments yet extan^ consisting of laige fragments of rocks, bearing inscriptions upon them, dispersed throu the fields of Norway and Sweden ; although they are sometimes found in churches, other buildings. It is deserving of remark, that the more ancient these inscriptions az«^ , the better they are sculptured.
Diogenus Laertius tells us, concerning the Greek philosopher, Cleanthes, that being poor, and wanting money to buy paper, he was accustomed to write the lectures and discourses of his master Zeno, on small shells, or bones of oxen. The poorer sort of people of Sweden and Norway, besides the use of bark, had recourse to the boms of the rein-deer and elks, which they finely polished, and shaped into books of several leaves. Many of their old calendars, are Ukewise, upon the bones of beasts and fishes ; and the inscriptions on tapestry, bells, parchment, and paper, are of later use.
Diodorus Sicidus affirms, tbat the Persians of old wrote all their records on skins ; and Herodotus, who flourished more than five hundred and fifty years before the Christian
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