ANCIENT BOOKS AND WRITING MATERIALS.

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custom, as will appear by our present engraving. That in most general use is a flat case, about nine inches long by an inch and a quarter broad, and half an inch thick, the hollow of which serves to contain the reed pens and penknife. It is furnished at one end with a lid attached by a hinge. To the flat side of this shaft, at the end furnished with the lid, is soldered the ink-vessel, which has at the top a lid with a hinge and clasp, fitting very closely. The ink-vessel is usually twice as heavy as the shaft. The latter is passed through the girdle, and is prevented from slipping through by the projecting ink-vessel. The whole is usually of polished metal, brass, copper, or silver. The case for pens and ink is worn in the same manner by the Persians, but it is very different in its form and appearance. It is a long case, eight or nine inches long, by one and a half broad, and rather less in depth, rounded at each end. It is made of paper, stiff as board, and the whole exterior is japanned and covered with richly colored drawings. This case contains another, which fits it exactly, and may be considered as a long drawer; it is of course uncovered at top, and slips into the outer case at one end, so that it can be easily drawn out, wholly or partially, to give access to the contents. These are shown in our engraving, and furnish an interesting exhibition of the utensils required by an oriental writer. First there is the ink-stand, which is so put into the case that it is the first thing that

Modern Egyptian Writing Case and Instrument.

offers when the drawer is pulled out. It is of brass or silver, the upper surface being sometimes ornamented with mother-of-pearl and other materials; and is sometimes furnished with a small magnetic needle (as in our specimen) under a glass, to enable the proprietor to find the direction of Mecca when he prays. Then there is a little spoon, from which water is dropped into the inkstand, for the purpose of diluting the ink when it becomes too thick or dry. The case also usually contains four or five pens of reed, whence the whole is called a "pencase," rather than an "inkstand.' As these pens are too thick-pointed to be nibbed on the nail, after our fashion with quill pens, a thin piece of horn is provided, on which the pen is laid for the purpose. These are the more essential articles, but often a small whetstone is added, and also a pair of scissors for clipping paper. The former we have given, but not the latter. Of these two sorts of "inkhorns," so to call them, the first is best adapted to be worn in the girdle, but the Persian

is certainly more light and elegant, and at least equally convenient with reference to its proper use; but neither of them are at all suited for such thin inks as we employ.

Saxon Reive-Pole.

Exchequer Tally.

The use of sticks and pieces of wood for the keeping of accounts, has been retained much longer than the rest; and has indeed remained to our own day, in evidence of the various purposes of this kind to which sticks have been applied. We have seen alphabets, records, books, poems, and calendars of stick; and the account sticks may be briefly noticed to complete the series. The most perfect and interesting of those which have remained in modern use appears to be the Saxon Reive-Pole, still, or down to a recent date, used in the island of Portland, for collecting the yearly rent paid to the sovereign as lord of the manor. The lands of this island are denominated ancient customary demesne and lands of inheritance, paying a yearly rent, and collected by the reive or steward every Michaelmas, the sum which each person pays being scored on a square pole, as shown in our present engraving. The black circle at the top denotes the parish of Southwell, and that side of the pole contains the account of the tax paid by the parishioners, each person's account being divided from that of his neighbor by the circular indentations between each. The other side of the pole, as seen in the cut, is appropriated to the parish of Wakem, the cross within a circle, being considered the mark of that district. In this, as in other instances, we find ancient methods of proceeding retained by governments long after they have been abandoned by individuals. This is shown in the present matter, by the ReivePole in the island of Portland, and still more by the "tallies" or notched sticks, so long and so recently used in the accounts of the public Exchequer, and which still gives name to the office of certain public functionaries, the tellers (talliers) of the Exchequer.