282
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. iv. OCT.,
also often called a " gadget " ; and the name
has been applied by local platelayers to the
" gc,uge " used to test the accuracy of their
work. In fact, to borrow from present-day
Army slang, " gadget " is applied to " any
old thing." H. TAPLEY-SOPER.
The City Library, Exeter.
" Gadget " is a colloquialism in the Navy for any small fitment or uncommon article for example, " a curious gadget." I never -came across anybody who could give a derivation. A. G. KEALY.
In a list of words and phrases used by our soldiers at the Front, sent to me recently from Flanders, there is the word " gadget," and its meaning is given as billets or quarters of any description, " and sometimes it is used to denote a thing of which the name is not known." ARCHIBALD SPARSE.
' Webster's New International Dictionary ' says that " gadget " is " often used of some- thing novel, or not known by its proper name (slang)." It is a word in frequent use in this sense by seamen and other workers. F. A. RUSSELL.
116 Arran Road, Catford, S.E.6.
PALESTINE: ROMAN (?) REMAINS (12 S. TV. 189). ' Murray's Handbook for Syria and Palestine,' entirely new edition (by Haskett Smith), 1892, p. 147, gives Barbara as one of the four old churches near to 'Abud, on the road from Tibneh to Ras el-'Ain (Antipatris), being part of the road from Jerusalem to Csesarea. Barbara is described as "a chapel crowning a rocky hill 12 min. W. of 'Abud."
" Close to the latter [? Barbara] is a group of most remarkable Tombs, somewhat resembling "the Tombs of the Judges at Jerusalem. They extend along a terrace at the foot of the rocks, and are of great size and well ornamented. There are nine of these tombs planned and described by the P.E. Survey ( Mem. ii. 361-364),
- nd they are called Mokdt'a 'Abfid, or ' the
Quarries of 'Abud.' These and other remains in the neighbourhood indicate the existence of a town of great importance here in. former days, and Dr. Sandreczki, of Jerusalem, has suggested that the Thamnatha of Josephus (see above) was really situated here."
" See above " refers to p. 146, where Tibneh is said to be the site of Thamnatha.
On the Handbook map 'Abud is, as the crow flies, about twenty English miles almost due east of Jaffa, and " Tombs " appear about one mile west by north of ^Abftd.
" P. E. Survey (Mem. ii.) " means " Pales- tine Exploration Fund" 'The Survey of
Western Palestine : Memoirs by Lieut. C. R.
Conder, R.E., and Lieut. H. H. Kitchener,
R.E.,' vol. ii. :
" 'Abud A large and flourishing Christian illage. A place dedicated to Saint Barbara exists near." P. 289.
' Barbara A small ruined chapel ; still a place of pilgrimage for Christians. It is of good nasonry, the foundations only remaining, measuring 10 feet across inside, and 22 feet in Length east and west. Between the chapel and the village of 'Abud is a fine pool lined with masonry, which was full when visited. Visited 5th June, 1873." P. 305.
" Mokat'a 'Abud A fine group of rock-cut tombs visited and planned by Major Wilson in 1866. Nine tombs in all were here planned by the
Survey party These [? the first three] are the
so-called ' Tombs of the Kings,' but more probably the monument of Helena, Queen of Adiabene, second century, B.C." Pp. 361-2. For the plans see the Survey as above.
ROBERT PIERPOINT.
SHAW OF BOWES (12 S. iv. 218). From a photograph of the Shaw gravestone in Bowes Churchyard I copy the following inscription :
In
Memory
of William Shaw, who died January 10th, 1850,
aged 67 years.
And of Bridget Shaw, wife of the above, who died Nov. 1st, 1840,
aged 56 years.
Also William Shaw, their son,
who died Oct. 21st, 1837,
aged 24 years.
There are also two infant daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw buried in the churchyard.
Your correspondent would do well to consult two illustrated articles on the subject which appeared in The Dickensian for January, 1911, and September, 1915. JOHN T. PAGE.
Long Itchington, Warwickshire.
The Dickensian for January, 1911, and Reckitfs Magazine, April, 1909, both contain illustrated articles on Shaw and Dotheboys Hall. The first-named magazine gives a reproduction of a photograph of Shaw's gravestone. -T. W. TYRRELL.
TYRANNICIDE (12 S. iv. 133,' 195). Evi- dence was desired for the statement that John Ponet, in his ' Shorte Treatise of Politique Power ' (1556), recognized the possible duty of tyranncide.
Hallam devotes a considerable space to this work in his ' Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries,' Part II. chap. iv. The treatise is said on
