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

294 Momiments of Antiqinly
quarpy'ing, forming, and laying ilones, in great
perfedtion, and have iifed mechanical powers of
which the iflanders of late ages have no concep-
tion. The expence of working and carrying the
ftones to the very fummit of a high hill, or to
the edge of a dreadful precipice, through al-
moft impaifable paths, mufl have been very con-
fiderable, and indeed Superior to what can \A'e]I
be imagined. One of the fort$ which I had oc-
cafion to view, ftands on the edge of a rock
which hangs over the ocean, and is of an amazing
height. The other fide of the rock againft which
you approach the fort, is a fleep afcent of more
than half a mile, and all the ftones which com-
pofed the fort muft have been carried up that hill.
This fort is in the Southern extremity of the ifland
of Earra.
Many of thefe flriidures are ftill pretty intire,
and almoft every one of them is fituated upon a
hill, commanding a very extenfive profpcdl, or
upon a fmall ifland of difficult accels, or upon a
precipice every way hideous. As they were de-
fined for watch towers, as well as for places of
ftrength, they are built and connerted through
irregular diftances, every one of them is in fight
of another, and they follow the windings of tr-e
Tea coaft and valleys. The Norwegians being
foreigi^ers, n:id confequently under continual appre-
henfions either from the natives, or from the Scots
of the continent, took care to contrive thefe for-
trefles, fo as that the alarm in cafe of an inva-
fion might run immediately from one divifion of
the country to another. On fuch occafions they
raifed great pillars of fmoke in the day time, by
fetting fjre to a great quantity of combuftible
matter.