Ossian Collection > Morison's edition of the Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

KOTES ON FINGAL.
ftones of the flint kind. The ftones as well as the pit were
properly heated with heath. Then they laid fome venifon
in the bottom, and a ftratum of the ftones above it ; and
thus they did alternately till the pit was full. The whole
was covered over with heath to confine the fteam. Whe-
ther this is probable I cannot fay ; but fome pits are fhewn,
which the vulgar fay, were ufed in that manner.
•^ Cean-feana. i. e. the head of the people.
P Offian the fon of Fingal and author of the peom. One
feannot but admire the addrefs of the poet in putting his
own praife fo naturally into the mouth of Cuchullin. The
Cona here mentioned is perhaps that fmall river that rum
through Glenco in Argylefliire. One of the hills which en-
viron that romantic valley is ftill called Scorna-fena, or the
hill of Fingal's people.
'' This epifode is introduced with propriety. Calmar
and Connal, two of the Irifh heroes, had difputed warmly
before the battle about engaging the enemy. Carril endea-
vours to reconcile them with the ftory of Cairbar and Gru-
dar ; who, though enemies before, fought ftde ly ftde in
the war. The poet obtained his aim, for we find Calmar
and Connal perfcdlly reconciled in the third book.
■" Golb-bhean, as well as Cromleach, fignifies a crooked
hill. It is here the name of a mountain in the county of
Sligo.
^ Lubar, a river in Ulfter. Labhar, loud, noify.
t BraflTolis fignifies a woman with a white breajl.
" But when he fpeaks, what elocution flows !
Like the foft fleeces of defcending fnows. Pope.
■" Bragela was the daughter of Sorglan, and the wife of
0uchullin. Cuchullin, upon the death of Artlio, fupreme
kins