The Spectator

Treasure Hunt

Set by Caroline Moore

The first prize is a pair of 18th century hand-coloured aquatints by Thomas and William Daniell illustrating views of India.

Plus two British Airways Super Club Tickets to either Delhi or Bombay. Alternatively tickets to other destina- tions on the British Airways network to the value of two tickets to India.

The second prize is the complete edition of the Diction- ary of National Biography in 29 volumes, (published by the Oxford University Press at £820.00).

The third prize is two cases of champagne.

There will also be many other prizes including signed copies of books by Spectator writers.

Special student prize: There will be a £50 record token donated by Island Records for the best student entry. Students are also eligible for all other prizes. A student is defined as anyone studying full-time at any level up to honours degree or the equivalent professional qualification. Proof of eligibility will be required.

Each issue of the Spectator from now until 8 December will carry a clue. Each of the nine clues will have three parts; the answers to the first two parts (a and b) will form an anagram of the name of the place which is the answer to the third part (c). All the places will be in the British Isles — making a trail which will lead eventually to the whereabouts of the treasure. It will not be necessary to visit the places in question, but to be certain of arriving at the treasure it will be necessary to keep a record of all the places along the trail — in other words to solve all the clues in the order in which they appear. At the end of the nine weeks, a rhyming clue will tell you how to decode a final place name from the nine place names you should have collected.

In theory it would be possible to win by only solving part (c) of each question correctly to arrive at the final answer. In practice, however, points will be awarded for answers to (a) and (b) as well as (c) and for showing your working — for explaining allusions and identifying quotations by author and work (and act and scene if a play). Long explanations will not be required and there is a limit of 150 words for explaining the set of questions that make up the three parts of each clue . For instance in the first clue three identifications are needed for (a), one for (b) and four for (c).

Do not give up if you fail to solve all the sub-sections of the first one or two clues — you have nine weeks to research your answers and you may still win with a less than perfect set of answers. It could for example be worth your while guessing at an author even if you do not recognise the quotation.

The closing date for entries will be 10 January 1985. No entries will be opened before that date. If several correct and complete answers are received then the winner will be decided by lot. In the event of any dispute or doubt, the final arbiter will be the Editor of the Spectator. The competition is not open to employees of the Spectator or their relatives.

Eighth Clue

8. a). He went through the mill in his youth, fell ill in a silk-bag shop in Old Bond Street, and died with the words 'Now it is come but reputedly rose from the grave and was afterwards seen at Cambridge.

b). O miserable and distressed Queene!

Would when I left sweet France and was imbarkt,

That charming s walking on the waues, Had chaungd my shape, or at the mariage day The cup of Hymen had beene full of poyson . . . .

c). A town that was set on fire by sparrows; where a landowner contrived to Let rising Granaries and Temples here, There mingled Farms and Pyramids appear, Link Towns to Towns with Avenues of Oak, Enclose whole Downs in Walls . . .;

and where the man whose innovations were made compulsory in England in 1853 (after being enforced in Bavaria, Denmark, Sweden, Wurttemberg and Prussia) spent his schooldays collect- ing fossils.

Answer Form 8

a). ............................................................................ • How to take part b) c).

•

Name........................................................................... ••

Address....................................................................... .••

Important: Please keep this answer form, as you will need to keep a record of all the answers that make up the trail. Without a complete set of answers in the right order, it will be more difficult to work out the whereabouts of the treasure. If you require more space, you may write your answer on plain paper (maximum 15" words) and attach it to the coupon. Only send it in to the Spectator, along with all the other answer forms (even if you have not managed to complete all the answers), at the end of the competition.. To he eligible for a prize, you must send in a complete set of answer forms.

BACK NUMBERS

If you missed the previous weeks' issues, it is still possible to enter the competition. Back numbers are available from: The Spectator, Competition Back Numbers, 56 Doughty Street, London WO,. 2LL. To obtain copies, just send your name and address togethme. with a cheque/postal order made out to 'The Spectator' for V."' per issue.