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no mortar employed in them, the use of which, as a cement, the Britons and Caledonians were instructed in by the Romans.

Some additional conjectures might be hazarded, but the limited nature of this work forbids it.

DRUID TEMPLE IN LEWIS.

This is one of the most remarkable Druid remains in the United Kingdom, next to Stonehenge and Abury. The form is that of a cross, containing, at the intersection, a circle, with a central stone, an additional line being superadded on one side of the longest arms, and nearly parallel to it. Were this line absent, its form and proportion would be nearly that of the Roman cross, or common crucifix. The longest line of this cross, which may be considered as the general bearing of the work, lies in a direction twenty-four degrees west of the meridian. The total length of this line is, at present, 588 feet, but there are stones to be found, in the same direction, for upwards of 90 feet further, which have, apparently, been a continuation of it, but which, having fallen, like others, through different parts of the building, have sometimes been overwhelmed with vegetation, leaving blanks that impair its present continuity. The whole length may, therefore, with little hesitation, be taken at 700 feet. The cross line, intersecting that now described at right angles, measures 204 feet, but as it is longer on one side than the other, its true measure is, probably, also greater, although no fallen stones are to be seen at the extremities,

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the progress of cultivation having here interfered with the integrity of the work. The diameter of the circle which occupies the centre of the cross, is 63 feet, the lines ceasing where they meet the circumference. The stone which marks the centre is twelve feet in height. The heights of the other stones, which are used in the construction, are various, but they rarely reach beyond four feet; a few of seven or eight feet are to be found, and one reaching to thirteen is seen near the extremity of the long line. The additional line already mentioned, extends northwards from the outer part of the circle, on the eastern side. It is, however, very defective, a great number of the stones being absent towards its northern extremity, although there is apparent evidence of their former continuity in one which remains erect, and in others which have fallen from their places. There are no traces of a line parallel to this on the western side, but as some enclosures have been made in the immediate vicinity, it is possible that such might have originally existed.

Notwithstanding the superstitious reverence with which the Scots in general regard these remains, and the care, with which, in their agricultural operations, they commonly avoid committing any injury to them, the intervals between the stones vary from two to ten feet or more, but it is probable that the larger spaces have resulted from the falling of the less firmlyrooted pillars, which occupied those places. The number of stones in the circle is thirteen, independently of the central one, and the number in the whole building, either erect or re

cently fallen, is forty-seven. The aspect of this work is very striking, as it occupies the highest station, on a gentle swelling eminence of moorland; there being no object, not even a rock or stone to divert the attention, and diminish the impression which it makes. The circles found in the vicinity are less perfect, and present no linear appendages; their average diameter varies from forty to fifty feet, and one of them contains four upright stones, placed in a quadrangular form with its area.

STONES OF STENNIS.

On the west of the Loch of Stennis, about three miles from the town of Stromness, in the Main-land of the Orkneys, are the Stones of Stennis. There is a circle of about 360 feet in diameter, formed by a ditch on the outside 20 feet broad, and 12 deep, and on the inside, by a range of standing stones, 12 or 14 feet high, and four broad. Several of the stones have fallen down, of others, fragments only remain, and of some, only the holes in which they stood. The earth that has been taken from the ditch has been carried away; and as there are four large barrows, two on the east side, and two on the west, it is supposed the earth may have been employed to construct them. Near the circle are standing stones, placed in no regular order that can be discerned.

On the east side of the Loch of Stennis is a semicircle 96 feet in diameter, formed not like the circle already described, by a ditch, but by a mound of earth, and with stones in the inside, like the former, but of much larger di

mensions. Near this semicircle are also stones of a similar description, placed in no regular order. In one of them is a round hole, not in the middle but towards one of the edges, much worn, as if by the friction of a rope or chain, by which some animal had been bound. Towards the centre is a very large broad stone now lying on the ground, but whether it formerly stood on end, like the others, or was supported on other stones, does not appear.

These monuments of antiquity have been supposed to be Druidical, but with little reason, as there is no evidence whatever of the Druids ever having been on the Orkney islands; nor is it probable, that ever the Celts had a footing there, as none of the names of the places or of he people are Celtic, but Pictish, Gothic, or Danish.

It is conjectured that these circles may have been places of assembly for the administration of justice, and may also have been employed for the worship of the Scandinavian God, Odin.

At Applecross, in the west of Ross-shire, are similar standing stones, formed into circles, and others into a triangle, with one in the midst of them, perforated in a similar manner; near them are tumuli or mounds of earth. Another similar circle stands in a moor, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. Lovers still pledge their faith to each other, by joining hands through the hole of the stone of Odin, at Stennis.

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ROMAN ANTIQUITIES.

THE Romans, after the conquest of the southern part of the island, invaded Scotland, and attempted to bring it into subjection. For the protection of their armies, camps were fortified at regular distances, and a line of such stations may be traced as far north as the Burghhead, on the Moray Firth. Some of these camps are still in a very entire state of preservation. We shall give a description of those at Ardoch in

Perthshire.

CAMPS AT ARDOCH.

There are two Roman camps near each other. The mean length of the large camp is 2800 feet, and its mean breadth 1950. Deducting the inter-vallum of 200 Roman feet, or 1931 English, and there will remain an internal area of 3,773,507 superficial feet, which is nearly sufficient to accommodate an army of 28,000 men. The greatest part of this rampart, with three gates, remain entire. The King's road enters the south gate, and in so doing has levelled one half of the Roman epaulment which covered it. Within the east rampart is a square redoubt, situated on a gentle eminence, which is the only instance of the kind in any of the works of Agricola.

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