Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

in the Scottijh IJles. 2^9
that are three hundred feet in circumference at the
bafe, and about 20 feet perpendicular in heighrh.
They are formed conically, and confift of llones
of almoft all fizes, as chance or the materials of
the place dire<5^ed. They lie generally near fmall
arms of the fea which run into the land and receive
rivers. They are always placed near the common
road, and upon rifmg grounds. The motives
which induced the builders to rear up thefe piles
in fuch places, were the advantage of the ftones,
and a defire of exciting the traveller's admiration
and devotion. Various have been the opinions of
the learned concerning the intention of thofe CairnSy
and concerning the people by whom they were
collefted. Some will have them to have been made
by way of trophies, or with a viewof perpetuating
the memory of heroes flain in battle. Some con-
jedure that they were monuments erected by way-
faring men in honour of Mercury, the protestor
of travellers. Others fancy that they were feats
of judicature for the old Brehons : and others are
of opinion that they were the eminences on which
our old Kings flood after their eledion ; fo as to
exhibit themfelves to the multitude. One or two
critics have imagined that they were no more than
boundaries which divided the e(l:ate of one great
Lord from that of another : and many have thought
that they were intended only for burial places.
The laft of thefe opinions is undoubtedly the
iufteft. The fepulchral urns always found in every
Cairn that has been hitherto examined, are fuffi-
cient to demonftr^te the truth of it. Thefe urns
are depofited in large flone coffins, which- lie in
the center of the barrow. The coffin confifls of
fix rude flat ftones j one in the bottom, two in the
T fides.