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the tribe, who are their savants, bodyguards and emissaries, and who are kept in a state of semi-hypnotic glamour in which they are quite unable to resist any command of their matters. It is these emissaries who steal in among the people and seize the victims. Even should they be discovered in the act, however, the people are in such awe of the priests that they dare not resist. A powerful narcotic is now administered—at least in the case of the victim in the ceremony which is being watched—for she is breathing heavily, and, mercifully, does not regain consciousness. Behind this priesthood there is a horrible deity of the infernal regions, in whose power they have placed themselves, and of whom they are as much afraid as the people are of them. It is from this source that they draw much of their magic power, and it is to feed and propitiate it that the sacrifices are made. I forbear to describe in detail the ceremony which followed, as it is too horrible; suffice it to say that the jugular vein is opened on the left side, and that the god, clothed in etheric matter, becomes visible in a ghastly travesty of a human form, placing himself so that the whole altar comes within his etheric double, and thus absorbs the offering that is made to him. The people are terror-stricken, yet fascinated. The priest does not break the hypnotic rapport after the ceremony, but allows them to find their way home with fixed, unseeing eyes, bearing with them the atmosphere of the horror which they have witnessed, and carrying terror into their settlements and homes. Gradually the influence of this particular sacrifice wears off; but the priests hold the people under their power, and use it to call them to attend ceremony after ceremony, until at last their individual reason and will are completely merged in that of the priests, who, by these means, gradually extend their influence and sap the virility of the people immediately around them. There are, however, in the remoter districts, large numbers who are not under their dominion, and who live a normal healthy life of hunting and primitive agriculture. (3) ENCAMPMENT. PAINSWICK BEACON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. This place appears to have been used as a military settlement by early inhabitants of this island, and the impress of more than one bloody battle remains. The natives were of a type similar to those previously described. This high ground has been used as a fort. it would seem that they expect their