CURIOSITIES OF LONGEVITY.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 10064, 16 June 1898, Page 2

CURIOSITIES OF LONGEVITY.

Fjbeside. If Maffens, the historian of the Indies, can be believed, one Niemas de Cugna, a native of Bengal, lived to the astonishing age of three hundred and seventy years. Although tins', story, is confirmed by Lopez Castegueds,' who at the time of Cugna's death, in 1556, was historiographer-royal of Portugal, and although it is altogether the best proved instance of so great longevity, its correctness has been somewhat doubted. But whether or not Cugna or his frieilds mistook the time of his birth, by a century or two, there is nodenying him the distinction of having reached the greatest ago of which we have anything like reliable data. He is described as a man of great simplicity of habit, and of very easy arid quiet manners; though wholly illiterate, he was possessed of a memory so remarkable that ho could recite tlie minutest details relating to most of even the daily events of two and a half centuries. He is said to have had many wives during his long life, and it is related that the colour of his hair and beard changed several times from black to gr.;y and from grey to bla_k. The next greatest instance of longevity known to us is that of Peter Zoctron, a French peasant, whose death is recorded on January 25tih, 1724, at the remarkable age of one hundred nnd eighty-three years. Immediately succeeding Zoctron is the instance of Lousa Truxb. This person was a negress, of Tucomia, in South America, who, in October, 1780, had reached the age of one hundred and seventy-five years, and was living in so good a degree of health that she promised many years in addition. However extraordinary these facts, a family by the name of Rovin, which resided about 1730 in Tunirvax, France, furnished three particulars, each of which is without a known parallel. First, the combined ages of the parents amounted to three hundred and thirty-eight years, the father, John Rovin, being one hundred and seventy-four, and the mother, Sarah; being one hundred and sixty-four. Second, they had been- married one* hundred and forty-seven years, and what is nearly as extraordinary, "they liyed throughout this very long period in' much peace ond contentment." Third, at the time of their death they had three children living, the youngest of whom was one hundred and sixteen years old.

England next enters the list, and furnishes

three remarkable Instances of long life In Henry Jenkins, Thomas Pair, aud I»dj Acton. The first, a native of Yorkshire, lived to the age of one hundred and sixtyi nine years, and once gave evidence inaonttt of justice on a circumstance which had Ity pened one hundred and forty before. In hi. time three queens and one king were b> headed, a Spanish and a Scottish king ym seated on the throne of England, and a store of revolutions had spent their fnry sal wrought their effects. Jenkins died m VS& at Ellerton. . . • Lady Acton, an __£ lishwoman of quiet manners and even tea* per, was the widow of John Franois Edward Acton, and the grandmother of Lord Acta. She was born in 1736, and her death, as announced by the London Times, was at the { very mature age of one hundred and thirty, seven years.