arge collection of geographical and
historical MSS., which contain valuable information regarding the wars
between the Moors and the Christians in Spain. Casiri's work is not yet
obsolete, but a more scientific system is adopted in Hartwig
Derenbourg's incomplete treatise, _Les Manuscrits arabes de l'Escorial_
(Paris, 1884).

CASKET, a small box or coffer, commonly used for jewels, money, papers,
or other objects of value. The etymology is doubtful. It is possibly a
diminutive of "cask," a barrel for wine or other liquor. The Spanish
_casco_ meant also a skull, helmet, or rind of an onion, and is probably
connected with _cascar_, to break open, Latin _quassare_, French
_casser_, to break, shake. The French _casque, casquet_, of the same
origin is only used of a helmet, and the sense of "small chest" is not
found in languages other than English. Skeat suggests that the word is a
corruption of French _cassette_, diminutive of _casse_, box, Latin
_capsa_, from _capere_, to hold, contain, cf. English "case." History
and literature are full of references to the often disconcerting
contents of these famous receptacles. The "Casket Letters" (q.v.) are
one of the mysteries of history. Harpagnon's casket plays an important
part in Moliere's _L'Avare_; Bluebeard gives his too-curious wife the
keys of his caskets filled with precious stones; the contents of
Sainte-Croix's casket brought about the trial and condemnation of the
marquise de Brinvilliers, the poisoner. This very ancient piece of
furniture was no doubt derived from the chest, which was the original
wardrobe. It was often an object of great value, covered with ivory,
enamel, or stamped leather, enriched with precious metals, or encrusted
with jewels. One which belonged to St Louis and is preserved in the
Louvre is covered with enamelled shields of arms and other decorations.
In the 16th and 17th centuries secret hiding-places were sometimes in
the thickness of the lid or in a false bottom. The word is now little
used--the natural result of the desuetude of the object; but auctioneers
occasionally announce that they will sell a "casket of jewels," and
undertakers, especially in the United States, frequently use it as a
grandiose synonym for "coffin."

CASKET LETTERS. This is the name generally given to eight letters, and a
sequence of irregular sonnets, all described as originally in French,
and said to have been addressed by Mary, queen of Scots, to the ear