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Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7741, 22 December 1890, Page 5

ANsw BEPBiosßATise Asbjit.—lt is stated that carbonic acid (or rather cart bonic anhydride) is now employed as thd refrigerating agent in vessels engaged itt tae frozen meat trade. Brine is cooled by tbe expanding gas, and is circulated through pipes.. The," steamer Highland Chief, which is fitted in this way by Messrs J. and B. Hall, Of Dartford, has recently arrived in the Liverpool Docks from the River Plate with a car go of 39,0 KJ carcases of mutton, all in splendid condition, and it is stated that' the coal consumption for working the refrigerating machinery amounted to one-fifth of what it would have been* under the old system.

AircTBNT EaTPTiAN Fttrraa.—Mr Flinders Petrie, the famous explorer, has re* cently found in an Egyptian tomb two ancient flutes in perfect preservation. They are being shown, together with some double flutes, at the Antiquarian Exhibition now open at 6, Oxford Mansions. Mc B. D. Blakeley and, Mr, T. L. Soutbgatd are engaged in some , elaborate acoustical experiments as to the notes attainable on these old instruments. If these can be accurately determined, we may hope to obtain a clue to the exact notes of the ancient Egyptian scale, a matter of very con* siderable historical importance. A discussion has already, arisen as to whether these instruments are true flutes, of whether they were furnished with reeds. As they are eighteen inches long, and the bore is no thicker than a cedar lead pencil, it is very difficult to make them speak unless a reed of the musette type is em ployed to induce the vibration of the thin column of air which the slender tubes "admit. ' ■-" "■ '. ' .". , .!,.'.'■.', ' ■'.■' The Latb Sib Howabd Blphinston*.— A memorial to the late Sir Howard Elphinetone; who was drowHed at sea in March last while on a.voyage to Teneriffe, in one of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamers, is being promoted at Devonport. A meeting was held at the BagUn Barracks there recently, to consider a proposal to erect the memorial in the Garrison Chapel in that town. The memorial will take the form of a brass tablet and lectern, which are being prepared by Mr T. J. Gawthorpi of Long-acre, London. The tablet, mounted on a large block of black marble, will , be placed in the east chancel wall of the Chapelj' near the pew which Sir Howard occupied. It" will be surmounted by an emblematical representation of a ship at sea, with on either side-aa officer in mourning; one in military and the other in naval uniform. The general's coat of arms and crest, the arms of the Boyal Engineers, the Victoria Cross, and the Orders K.C.B. and C.M.G. will be displayed on the tablet, which will also bear an inscription.,.lt was resolved at the. meeting to hold a special service in the garrison chapel to unveil the memorial at a date to be- afterwards fired, and-the hope was- expressed that some member of the Boyaf Family would perform the ceremony". . Thk King off Dahomey's Amazons.—A small detachment of the King of Dahomey's famous Amazons has received permission to visit Europe; and the female w,arriora 'are [ now being: exhibited in Berlin. There are twenty-five Amazons j and ten male companions. The women are coffee-brown in color, slender, but not handsome. Their jet-black hair is partly covered by a cap made-of cowrie shells, of which are also composed their many, ornaments. Their faces-are tattoed. They wear j short blue woollen frocks reaching to the, knee, with" a kind of breast; lappet upheld by straps crossed over the shoulders. The ! Generaless, Gumma, wears a frock of blue velvet. The ten men. are darker itt color,and wear aprons and tall feather helmets. They with very ancient Frenchguns and their performances - s cpnsisfc of the roll call j a war song before the'battle, during which the women creep on all four&jn a long line j sword exercise, and a war-dance, in which, the men are particularly distinguished by all. kinds of astounding feats of agility. • ■