Ossian Collection > Ossian, his principal poems

ONE day's journey TO THE HIGD LANDS 3l->
camp, we cast our eyes to the other side of the river, where
is to be seen a Roman house, in ruins, of a circular form, the
walls of Avhich are about two feet above the sui'ftice of the
ground. Having contemplated these objects, Ave proceeded
towards a new bridge, which crosses the water of Almond,
and marched up the hill of Uun-mhor,* which we found to
l>e two miles of ascent, obliquely, and about a quarter of a
mile perpendicular height ; near the top of which are visible
the remains of a great many Caledonianf houses placed in
an irregular manner. ^Ye then ascended to the top of the
hill, in order to view what the country people call a Giant's
castle, but Avhich T found to be a Caledonian, or Danish castle
of great strength ; it is surrounded with^wo rows of Avails,
the in.side part of the inner wall may he about two hundred
feet in diameter, and about eight or nine feet thick, and the
outer Avail, about one thousand feet in circumference. This
hill has a commanding prospect of Perth, where there was a
Roman station ; and it may be conjectured, with some degree
of probability, that the Romans took possession of the hill,
and placed an out-post here, in order to give their armies
intelligence Avhen the Caledonians Avere coming over their
mountains. There is another Roman out-post upon the top
of a hill two miles north-east from this fortification. Here
we had a vicAv of the Grampian hills, from whence the
* Yrom du)t, " hill," and ;;//^C';-, ''great,"— "' the castle of the
great hill."
t In ancient times, the Caledonians placed their habitations upon
the top of the highest hills, in order to prevent any sudden surprise
from their neighbouring clans ; and to illustrate this, Ave find the
A-estiges of ploughs, or ridges, and furrows, upon the highest hills,
Avhere grass will not grow at present.