290
NOTES AND QUERIES. [us. vi. OCT. 1-2, 1912.
SOLAH TOPEE OR PITH HELMET. When
did these come into use in India ? The pith
(resembling that of the elder) is from
JEschynome paludosa (or aspera), a leguminous
plant belonging to the mimosas. The word
sholam (pith) is now frequently applied in
South India to the maize, one of the grasses
introduced from South America (not earlier
than 1500 A.D.) into India.
The earliest references in Yule's ' Hobson- Jobson ' are to Colesworthy Grant's ' Rural Life in Bengal ' (circa 1854), but the book was not published till 1860. The author died 1883.
The earliest references I can find are in ' The Timely Retreat ; or, A Year in Bengal before the Mutinies,' written by the Misses Wallace-Dunlop in 1856. There a sketch is given of the policeman's (or fireman's) helmet type as worn by a " griffin." The Collector of Meerut is also described as wearing one with a white cover. In the memoirs of Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor (who fought through the Mutiny as a lad of 17), he describes (vol. i. p. 64) an un- expected attack by a Sepoy, but, " thanks to a solah topee with a good pugree, the blow did not touch my head." This was at Patiali on 17 Dec., 1857. Surely there are earlier notices ? COUP DE SOLEIL.
[See 4 S. ix. 196, 270 ; 5 S. xii. 229, 295.]
WILLIAM PHILLIPS. I shall be grateful if any of your readers can help me in dis- covering particulars of the birth and mar- riage of William Phillips, Governor of Pet- worth Jail in 1791. He was born 1747, married 1778 to Anne Woodroffe (of the Woodroffes of Basingstoke). The certificates cannot be found in the districts in which they lived, i.e., Petworth, Sussex.
G. A. WOODROFFE PHILLIPS.
Leydens House, Edenbridge, Kent.
1. GLAMORGAN BREED OF CATTLE. I shall be glad to be favoured with any early references to this extinct breed, and any early comparisons between Glamorgans and the Pembrokes, Castle Martins, or the Gloucester breeds. Is there any evidence to support the statement that the breed was descended from Norman cattle ?
2. CAERPHILLY CHEESE. I believe this cheese was originally called Welsh cheese or Glamorgan cheese, and I shall be glad of references to it under these names, also of any reference indicating when the present name came first to be used.
R. HEDGER WALLACE,
EARTH-EATING. Certain Swedish tribes
are reported to eat a brown earth in times
of famine. Can any reader give me infor-
mation concerning the nature of this earth,
and also references to accounts of earth-
eaters in general ? RENIRA,
STERNE AND " DR. SLOP " (BURTON OF YORK). Wilbur Cross, in his ' Life and Times of Laurence Sterne,' p. 75, states that Burton was three years younger than Sterne (b. 1713). The Rev. C. J. Robinson, in the ' Dictionary of National Biography.' says that Burton was born at Riponin 1697. Which date is correct ? ALBAN DORAN.
PORTRAIT OF OLIVER HEYWOOD. There is a portrait of the distinguished early Nonconformist divine Oliver Heywood, in which he is represented as holding a book and wearing a skull-cap. The picture has been frequently reproduced, and is very well known. Can any of your readers assist me in finding the original oil painting ?
E. BASIL LUPTON.
AUTHOR OF QUOTATION WANTED. " The Survivorship of a Good Man in his Son is a Pleasure scarcely less than the Continuance of his own Life."
I believe that this saying occurs in The Spectator, and I should be very grateful to any one who could give me the reference.
WILL WIMBLE.
HEWLETT AND POTTER, REGICIDES. Of all the regicides tried in 1660, I believe Capt. William Hewlett, Hulet, or Hewlett, and Vincent Potter are the only two not to be found in the ' D.N.B.' Does any reader of ' N. & Q.' know when these men died ? F. C. WHITE.
71, Newfoundland Road, Cardiff.
1. REV. JOHN CORHAM HUXHAM, F.R.S. Information (especially as to works and any portrait) is desired respecting this man, who was son of Dr. John Huxham of Ply- mouth, and died in 1778. Who was his mother ? Presumably a Corham.
2. JOHN KNOWLES, F.R.S. Information is sought concerning Jolm Knowles, born 24 March, 1781, died 21 July, 1841, who was a corresponding member of the Philo- sophical Society of Rotterdam, and Secre- tary to the Surveyors of the Royal Navy. Particularly, is any portrait known ? Please reply direct.
T. CANN HUGHES, M.A., F.S.A. 78, Church Street, Lancaster.
