ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OBANSAY. 113

I. ANTIQUITIEE NOTETH E ISLANDN O STH F F COLONSAO SO S D YAN ORANSAY Y WILLIAB . M STEVENSON. COMMUNICATE Y DB uD ARTHUR M1TCHELL, Secretary S.A. SCOT.

Gliurches and Ecclesiastical Structures.—On the islands of Colonsay e d remainOransath an e f nino ar d sychurche ol e r ecclesiasticao s l structures, and the sites of other three are remembered by the older islane th Oransay.n i f Colonsa n dthesf i o o natives o e tw n e ar d Te 1yan . Of these building mose sth t important must have bee e Monasternth y of Kiloran. No remains of it now exist, but upon its site and partly with materias it s beeha ln buile presenth t t Colonsay House n 170I e .th 0 "principal church" village stooth f n Kiloran.di o e e earliesTh 2 t notice of Colonsay as a parish appears to be in 1549, by Archdeacon Munro, who says " It hath aiie parish kirke."3 The next in importance is the Monastery of Oransay,4 the site of which covers a considerable area. But except one small portion called the Friars incorporatew Houseno d an , d wit fare th hm offices erected alongsidee th , whole of the buildings are unroofed and in ruins. The appearance of the mason work shows that different parts of the structure had been erected at different dates. The oldest portion seems to be that called the cloisters, being part of a wall in the inside 27 feet long and 27 inches thick, and having five semi-circular arched openings throug . it hThi e s th par f o t building s figurei s Pennanty b dportioe th t nbu , containin e straighth g t

1 In Blaeu's Map published in 1651, fourteen such structures are delineated, eleven Colonsan i thred yan Oransayn i e 166n I patronage gran.7a th f churchee o t th f eo s and Cllaplainries is made by Charles II. to the Earl of Argyll—Origines Parochiales, remaine . 280p Th . .volii f severa.s o l Romish e seeChapelb Colonsayn o i t e sar , Statd ''Ol . Acct.," vol rid.s xii hi e. 330 p .n fro I . m Oransa Kilorano yt , Pennant men- tions having seen four ruined chapels, vol. ii. p. 274. See also Martin, p. 246, and " Sculptured Stones of Scotland," vol. ii. p. 25. 2 Martin . 249p , . 3 Origines Parochiales, . 280volp . .ii . 4 ; Pennant Martin6 24 . p , . ,270 p vol . .ii .

VOL. XV. H 114 ' PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY U, 1881. pointed arche e gonesportiow houslika Th no e roo f .th f e o no fear the structure which appears most recently erected is what may be called the church or chapel. This apartment is the largest, and measures 60 feet long fee8 1 ,sid e t wideth e d wall an ,aboue sar fee 0 2 ease t t th hight n I . end there is a finely formed Gothic pointed arch window with mullions dividing it into three lancet-shaped openings. The height from the sole arce poine tth cheeke owidte s 1hth i 2f th th o t l feet d feeth5 s Al an , . of door d windowsan s d mullionan , f thio s s apartmen f dresseo e ar t d freeston kina islandse t founf th o ed no n do . hala Twd f oan fee tn fron i fro f thiwale o d mtth san l windoe th ws i altar table coverelarge on e y sladb b 6 Jfeet3 fee y .b t againsp u t wale Se th t l smala roun n altari e ld th sid an , e apartment, and covering graves outside, or lying on the ground, are twenty-four sculptured stones, seemingl e top th r ycovero s f tablo s e tombse Th . supports or pedestals, and the plinths of these have been freely appro- priate r heafood fo d an dt e stoneburyinth n i s g ground outsiden O . two of the stones set against the wall there are sculptured in high relief full lengt thirha figuresn o dfigura d feean e3 , t long, with sworde s th gir o t waists with belts. On the heads are helmets and on the shoulders and necks is chain mail. One of the two large figures has small figures on the pillow on each side of the head. The other figure has also a small figure on each side of the feet. Nine stones have cross-handled swords dow e centrea nearle stonnth s On ha ey. full length figur n clericai e l habit, with a canopy over head and in the left hand a pastoral staff or crosier. Several other stones have also figures; some have hunting scenes with deer, dogs, horses . e stoneSom&c th , completele f eo ar s y covered with ornamentthef o l me al th hav t f o bu ,e s i mor t i lessr d eo an , same characte e Oronsath n typr o o r s yea crossseveran O .the f o l m (one in particular which lies broken outside the building) it is of a superior clas f desigo s d workmanshi an ne cros th so e other t itselfth d o t psan . Several of the stones have inscriptions which might be read if some trouble were first take n cleanini n g awa e growtth y d diran ht which covers them. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND ORANSAY. 115

The five arches hefore referred to, and several others in the building, seem to be of the same character of construction as those of Kirkapoll Tiree.1 The pointed arches figured by Pennant,2 but now gone, and some still remaining in other parts of the buildings, have been constructed by first pieceo settintw f pavemen o sp gu d thean tn building over them.3 Arche differenn si tGothie buildinge partth th f f o so c e pointesar d type, and several openings are covered with long stones. la the south-east corner of the chapel, and near the altar, is a recess e openinth , f whic8 incheo g1 s i h s squar goed an es bac k6 fee t through the wall into a buttress or construction on the outside. This hole open t widesou r afte t goei r s throug walle cavithe th th , y inside th e buttress measures 3 feet each way. It has been partly filled with bones from time out of memory, and is called the hole for the bones (Toll nam Cnamh).4 Bones which have bee e surfacn th turneo t e p havdu e always been collected into unabls thiwa s ascertaiI o holee t t bu , reasone nth r o , they ywh wer t buriedeno . Some bone srecessen i alsM'Neil e e oth li n si l enclosure and in a side chapel. The rats from the adjoining farm buildings have got a lodgment in the old buildings, and frequently bring bones to e surfacth e from their burrows e M'JSTeilTh . l burying-place consistf o s two enclosures on the east side of the buildings, partly outside and partly inside of them. vera attempn t A yno aesthetif o t c kin bees dha n mad preservo et e part of the old walls from coming down, but if some thing more was done in the way of pointing with good Portland cement it would preserve from a ver ruir yfo n e moslonth gf t o interestin time eon d ecclesiasticagol l structures. closd soute an th e f n hbesido O buildinge th e raised an , d about 4 feet

1 " Scotland in Early Christian Times," p. 66. 2 Pennant, vol. ii. p. 270. 3 The pieces of pavement which formed the pointed arches are found set up as head- stone graveso st . Macculloch record quantitsa unburieyof d bone graveyara sin Barradin , vol. iii. p. 44. See also "Burt's Letters," vol. ii. p. 109. 116 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBKUAR , 1881Y14 . abov e groun eth mas a f y masodso b n work, stand e Oransath s y cross.1 e masoTh n wor whicn ko e croshth s stands is covered by a slab 3 feet by 3 feet and 3 inches thick, and through au thi i hol t s ecu sla r solbo e plate, the end of the cross is let down into an de masofixeth n di n worke Th . shaft of the cross from the sole plate e extremth o t e point measure2 1 s feet 1 inch; the arms of the cross from point to point 3 feet 5| inches; the thicknes crose th 4s f i sf o inchese ;th diamete f tho re inches7 circl2 s i e . e breadtbase shafe th Th th et a tf ho 1 arm1 d e an sar inches p 0 i2 sto e th , inches broade crosTh s. facee du s e westh easd westtn sidan O tf .o e e n inscripcrose a shafth th s i f so t - tion in .Latin,2 and on the same side e bas oth r fsol o e e plat anothers ei , o linetw s n i whic fron ru hm sido et side. One north-westh . t cornef o r the sole or base plate is carved a sun dial pointee th , trianglr o r f whiceo h ia now removed, but had been set with lead. Wha I presumt Macduffie th s ei e

1 It is found in Pennant (vol. ii. p. 270), and by Stuart in the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland, , plate25 ". sp vol xxxviii. ii . . xxxixd an . 2 A reading of this inscription will be foun n "Sculpturedi d Stone Scotland,f so " The Oransay Cross. none of the inscriptions are now legible. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OBANSAY. 117

Cross, or rather a portion of the shaft of it, stands in a mass of mason worsmala n k o le eas knol th e buildingst n sidth o lf eo faced an , s north and south. This remaining portion of the shaft from the junction of the sole plate up measures 3 feet high, 13 inches broad, and 3 inches thick. The shaft of the cross must have been let through a sole plate and set int masoe oth n sam e worth en ki manne e Oransath s a r ye Crossth t bu , sole plate of this one has been removed.1 It has been in the same state during living memory. Lai p againsu d e shaf th tthn o te mason wors ki heae crosa th f do s wit circlee hth completp , to arms d a d par an ,f ean o t figure carved on it. The ornament of the Macduffic Cross is of the same character as the Oransay one. A small cross is also placed on the point of a gable facing east and west, and another on one facing north and south. Abou yard0 10 tn thso e fro d righman t han roade th sidd f eo leadin g dowstrane gleth e nth o nt d watewherw lo t re a peopl e cross the sandn so foot from Colonsay to Oransay, and about half a mile from the strand on the Colonsay side, stand the ruins of the Temple of the Glen (Teampull a Ghlinne).^ The building is nearly due east and west, and measures fee9 1 1 fee t 3 y outsideb t walld inchean 7 , 2 s s f thicke wallo e Th ar s. stone and lime and much broken down, only the back and front wall now remai fule nth l heigh f abouo t e wallfeet8 tTh s. have been plastered inside. At the east end part of the remains of a structure, which may have heen an altar, are seen. In the north-west corner, and a little above the floor level, is a small recess, 20 inches long, 13 inches high, and 18 inches into the wall. It is constructed partly into the gable, so that the opening is only 13 inches by 11 inches wide. The construction of this recess is somewhat similar to the one in which the bones are in Oransay. Therappearanco n s ei f thereo e having bee fireplacena e Th . west gabl yearew felfe ssoute a dool e hee agos th Th n ha rh.ns o i side d an ,

The sole plate of this or of another cross was found set for a head-stone to a 1 grave. This is likely to have been one of the ruined chapels seen by Pennant, and would 2 ridee th firse .n th o t e b 118 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

splayed inside.1 There smalon s eli windo eacn wo h side inche4 2 , y sb inches6 splayedd an , . Therappearanco n s ei othef eo r openings through states wallsi e t th I d. that funerals waite thin di s building till such time suitable tids ath se wa crossinr efo strane gth Oransayo dt . districe th n Kilchattanf I o t wese th islante n 2sido th f f Colonsayedo o , and in the middle of a burying-ground, stand the ruins of the old church of Kilchattan.8 It stands east and west, and measures 31 feet by 21 feet, and the walls are nearly 3 feet thick, and built of stone and lime. The stones are mostly large undressed boulders, the spaces between being filled with small flat piece r shiverso st the a t .easily go , ma suce y b s a h rocks e doonear s Th saii r .o hav dt ee wes beeth tn i n endther d an , e appear .to.be the remains of a window in the east gable and a very small one in the south wall. Both .gables are now nearly level with the ground. whan I t remaiu ease th smalo tf sgablo tw le recesseear bolesr so inche4 1 , s inchesb3 y1 . The four churches above noticed are the only ones on the islands which have been built of stone and lime. And up till the time in the last century when Colonsay House was built out of the ruins of Kiloran Monastery it is probable that no other dwellings built of stone and lime existed on the islands, if we except the round towers of the fort on Loch-na-Sgoltire. Traces of other buildings of stone and lime were not found. e burying-groun Abouth e eas e th f milo ton o tt e d churcan d f o h Kilchattan, and on the left hand side of the road going east, beside, and nearly in front of the new Baptist Chapel, are the ruins of another church, Kilmary (Kil-a-Mhorich, Kilmorie, Kil-a-Mlworie).^ It stands east and The doors of the old houses on Colonsay are not splayed but built square through 1 the wall. 163n 3I Parsonage gran2a th f o t e and'Vicarag e Paristh f eEilehattao f ho e th d nan whole land f Colonsaso e Bishos y madi th e Isles th y b ef p o , Origincs Parochiales, vol. ii. p. 280. This is likely to have beeu one of the mined chapels seen by Pennant and would 3 be the third on the road. Thi likels si havruinee o yt th ef o bee de chapelnon s see Pennany nb would tan e db als e ridee fourte oSe th th Proceedings.n 4ho , vol. iii. 258p . . ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OEANSAY. 119

west, measures about 28 feet by 20 feet, walls 3 feet thick and of stone abouw no e wall td soie Th levellean ar sl d wit l e groundal th h d an , loose stones have been removed. On the farm of Machrins on the west coast, almost due south from Kilchattan, hal mila f e east fro fare mmiddle th m th a n housef i eo d an , park in which oats grew this year, is what looks like a rubbish heap, over- grown with weeds, and which is this winter to be cleared away. This rubbish heap is the remains of Kilbride (Kil-a-Bhride). It was unknown

to the farmer, but known and described by many of the1 old natives. The form of the building and foundations are easily made out amongst the weeds. It stands east and west, and measures about 27 feet by 18 feet. In front of Machrins farm-house, and about half a mile west from Kilbride e sit f anotheth ,o e d churcol r s pointei h de whol th out t e,bu structur s beeha en removed. d manA ol r nGilber M , t M'Neill, farmer, Lower Kilchattan, while working as a farm servant on Machrins during time occupationn th a formee ow s hi r proprieton ,i assistet i d o ha dt r remove the foundations. This old building went under the name of the Preaching House (Tigh Senrmonachailh) r Houso f Sermonso e wad an ,s also called Hous f Seateo s (Tigh na Suidheachan), fro beins mit g seated with turf benches sais i hav o dt t I e. been lonnarrow d havo gt an d e an , served as the parish church till the present one was built, and the minister is said to have lived at Ardskinish. Near the site of this church there standina s i g stone abou fee3 t t above ground whic brankd hha r jougso s attached for the punishment of church offenders, it was higher then than it is now. The jougs were last used upwards of sixty years ago, and the person undergoin e punishmenth g s sai i sacta o hav t dd k eha ove r him. Shortly after thiuppee sth stone r th par f e o twit e joug hs th broke swa n off and thrown into an adjoining moss, which is pointed out.2 There are

This is likely to have been one of the ruined chapels seen by Pennant and would 1 secone e ridebeth th .n do In the Hebrides many churches are dedicated to St Bridget.—Pennant, vol. iii. . 183p . Macculloc chapet y finno an d hd l di saysdedicate e h , t e BridS th o t dn ei Hebrides, vol. iii . 141p . . 2 Referring to the rapid growth of peat noticed by Sir Robert Christison in a paper 0 12 PBOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

some faint trace f carvinse o remainin th n o g n ge stonei th pard f an o ,t the part which.was broken off were holes by which horses were .at times tied. This ston havy ema bee crosna s connected wit churce hth h near by, extreme th n O e north-eas e islanth f f Colonsao dto d far yan f Balm o - na-hard, about three-quarter mila f seo north-east froalmosd man t within e farm-housth sigh e f remain o e th churct th e f ar f eo Kilcatrinso h e (K/2-a-Oathrinci), almosw no t removed, e stonemanth f yo s having within the last few years been used for other building purposes. It stands east and west, measures 32 feet by 20 feet, walls about 3 to 4 feet thick, and of stone and soil. The part of a broken cross, now in the museum, was found gras e lyinth sn go besid e ruineth . Ther standina s ei g stone about 3 feet high which seems to have been a cross. It does not appear to have been tool-dressed except for the purpose of forming the arms, but is no muco ws h broke scarcels na retaio yt appearance nth crosse a f Th eo . cattle use it for a rubbing stone. Inside the building and at the east end are some pieces of pavement which may have formed the altar. A rough boulder measurin inche4 8 inches0 2 g1 1 y d y b sb an , wit hhola inche5 inche1 6 inchee1 1 d y sb san s deep ,sid e madon e n ei of it, and similar to the barley knocking stones, also lies beside the ruins.1 sais i havo dt t I e bee priest'e th n s wel baptismar o l usualls li fontd an ,y covered with several irregularly shaped bits of pavement from about 6 inchesinche8 1 o t s broad, eac t havinhbi grouna d hole e througTh . hit holes var diameten yi r from abou beininc1 incheso 3 t e o tw ht gth o n , same diameter smallese th pavemenf o n t I bi .t t hol e thereon s througei h d anothean r nearl . yBesidso e this troug d bit f pavemenan ho s a s i t large pebbl r water-woro e n stone about 7| inche s4 inche lond an gs diameter, and which goes under the name of the woman's pap or breast (Gioch nam 'Ban). It is pear-shaped, but thicker or rather dumpier at

read by'him a subsequen t 1a t mentionee meetin b e Society th ma f go . ydit here that three crop growthr so f pease o know ar t o havt n e beet frocu nm thise mosth n i s memory of some.older inhabitants. On many other parts of the island the peafc has been cut more than once within memory. See stone found in the ruins of Chapel Mcalistn, Dist, Lewis.—Proceedings, 1 8-79 .p. .32...... ANTIQUITIE ISLANDE TH F COLOF SO SO N OKANSAY SAD YAN 1 2 1 .

the small end than a pear. The small end of this stone fits into the hole of the larger bit of pave- ment. A practice is said to have existed of turning or twisting this stone roune holwisn th edsu n e i of the largest hit of pavement. Boun e stoneth d consequencn i , e of this turning, ther s beeha e n worn or rubbed a considerable rin r deeo g p mark d whican , h form a sorsf neck. o t I coul1 d t ascertai- no ob e nth whas wa t e turninth jec f o tf thi go s stonp, superstitioe orth n connected with it. About a mile north from the harbour of Scalasaig, and on the east coast e somar , e remainf o s another church called the Chapel of Eiskbui r Chapele(o f Eeasag-o buie). Beside and aromid it are sufficient evidences of burial. The site of the building is pointed out, and is about 18 feet by 12 feet inside persoo livingN w . nno o s , far as I could ascertain, has seen much more than now exists. The curious stone cross here figured,

islane th f Ronan do 1O , north east from Lewis. Martin sayse , thath n o t chaped t Ronol S f e altao lath f thero r e plana y f la wooko fee0 d1 t long, with

Cross from Hiskbuie. 2 12 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

now in the garden of Colonsay House, formerly stood at the east end of takes chapele wa th n t I dow . d place nan covea s da r ove wele th r l near s ultimatel e churchwa th d an ,y remove y Commandeb d r Stewaro t t Colonsay House. The figure here given is from a photograph taken by Eev . J B. . Mackenzie, formerl f Colonsayo ye cros th e shaf f sTh o t. has since been broken, and the present length is 3 feet 7 inches, but it measures 4 feet 5 inches if the splintered part is included. e breadt e shafTh th s 10i f t ho | inches e stretce armth ,th s 14Jf si h o - inches, and from the centre of the cross to the top is 16 inches. The cross has been made out of a natural slab of the softish whinstone of the districts dressei t I .d onl n fronti y , undresseds it e backon th d . an , greatest thicknes inches5 s irregular i s si t bu , . Other carved stonee sar sai havo dt e been built into houses near rounA . d hol n basir i e o t nou the rock in the middle of the burial-ground and a small knocking stone lying beside the houses will be noticed under knocking stones. Oe far nth f mBalleraomio n islande e M6rsouth-easth th f t o a ,, d en t and close to the farm-house, are about 2 acres of level ground of superior quality to that around, and called the plain of the church. Inside this arremaine e th paces5 enclosur n 2 a d insid f y so an b , 0 e2 e thi s agaie nar the remains of a structure of stone and soil, measuring about 30 feet by 20 feet, and lying east and west. This is the church of the plain (Leanne na li'eagalais). yardw fe churcse A easth f to ah s i standing stone measur- ing 6 feet above ground by 18 inches broad and 3 inches thick. It bears trace carvingf so ther d a traditio an ,s ei figura a cross nd n o thaeha , t i t t whic bu f brokes religiouo wa ht fi n a ofs n fzeai somy b l e one. This stonhavy ma e bee ncrosa s connected wit churce hth h near by. On the south-west corner of the island of Colonsay and farm of Ards- kinnish, and up a glen a short distance from the shore, there is said to have been another church called Kilkenneth (Kil-a-Chonnich). The glen

hola evern ei evern i y d fooy an holt a stone whico et e nativeth h s ascribed several virtues (p. 21). This plank of wood had disappeared at the time of Macculloch's visit, vol. iii. p. 313. See the stone in Churchyard of Burghhead, figured in "Pas Present,d an t Dy "b r Arthur Mitchell. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND ORANSAY. 123

still bears this name, but the buildings do not now exist, and its exact t knownsitno s ei . However smale th side f th l egleo e n burth o , n a f no numbe f elderberro r y bushes grow d aboua sand an ,yard0 n 2 o ty p su braeside ther a squar s ei e clume sameth f po . Beside these bushee sth farmer pointed out where some bones had been thrown up by rabbits. On excavatin e plac o fulth t tw ela g skeleton s were bared. They were laid full length, without enclosure, and were complete. In one case the bens wa trigh acros m face breasar e t th esth d turnetan d rounrighte th o dt . e othee th skul Th f ro l bore trace f havino s g bee t witcu n a hshar p instrument probably during life. On the island of Oransay, and about a quarter of a mile north from Oransay House, there exist the foundations of another church called Kilrnary, s ahou i 1 0 yard t 5 feetmeasurinI 1 10 t s.y b inte 0 oth 2 g middle of a park to the left of the road where it takes the turn to the south, and shortly before Oransay House comes in. sight. All the church structures on the islands seem to have been square cornere oblongd dan , without chance other o l r additions. Grave-yards and Burial Customs.—The ground around the Monastery of Oransa s froyha mremota e period til beelo withiag n o ntw yeaa r o r used as a burial ground, and is enclosed. Burials have, however, been found beyon presene th d t enclosure. About four years ago, when some alterations were being made inside the present byre of the farm, a stone uncovereds cis agais wa placte wa th npointe s t i t eI close bu . p du out. The ground around Kiloran was also used from a remote period as a graveyard. This was discontinued when Colonsay House was built about a century ago. A stone cist was found in the garden here some years ago.2 juss i t tI possible that many sculptured stone havy esma been built into the older part of Colonsay House. After the discontinuance of burials at Kiloran. the ground around the church of Kilchattan became the graveyard of the island.

1 (Kil-a-Mhoorie, Kilmorie, Kil-a-Mhorich) papee Se Wy b .r . Beeves, D.D.. &c , —Proceedings, vol. iii. 258p . . Martin mentions two having been found before his visit, p. 249. 2 124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

Till within recent years the custom prevailed of burying unbaptized children elsewher eusuae thath n lni graveyard. Whe s rememberei t ni d that after the Reformation the islands of Oolonsay and Oransay formed parise parth Jura,f f ho o t thad 1an settlet o n ther s dewa ordained clergy- man till recentl islando y tw whe e s th nwer e constitute a parisd h quoad sacra, t i wil e easilb l y understood that many such death f childreo s n might occur, when Kiloran was the burial-place of the island of Colousay,2 Kilchatta sais ni havo dt e been use unbaptizer fo d d children. t afteBu r3 t e cami use r b othe fo o det r burials Kilmary becam e graveyareth r fo d unbaptized children. The burial of one unbaptized child is remembered havo t e taken e Churc place th Plain th t thred a ef han o t ,anothe a e r burying place (Bruthach-a-Bheanan) about three-quarters of a mile up fro harbour.e mth 4 yearw Tilfe sla ago, whe a walns buil wa l t roun e graveyarth d f o d Kilchattan, the custom prevailed of building a cairn6 in and over the grave after o placburialt uprighn d ea an , t ston t e hea ea d footh f dan o t graveobjece Th s sai.i t o havdt e bee e preventinth n f swineo g , which are alloweloosen ru o , t dfro m digging intgravee oth . Sinc e walth e l e practic th yearbuil w s o fe wa ag sf a cairt e o n buildin s ceasinggi e Th . stones were collected around by those who accompanied the funeral, several tons being sometime o gathereds s e practicTh . e account a grea n i st measure for the disappearance of the old church buildings. The grave cairns around tell this tale. Cairns similar to those seen in the graveyards of Kilchattan and Oransay are also found beside Kilmary, Kilcatrine e Churce Plainth , th f o h, arid Temple e Glenth th f o e, Bruthac hBheanana , Riskbuie, Kilmar Orann yi -

1 Old and New Statistical Accounts, &c. lonn I pieca f t grounapareo se s t dwa formerl e buriath r f murderero ylfo d an s 8 nnbaptized children.—Martin, p. 258. churcd ol e h Th yar f Hiltondo , Cromarty tilp u l s 184wa , 1 buriae useth r f do lfo 3 unbaptized children.—Wilson's "Voyage," vol. ii. p. 445. 4 The number of uubaptized persons in Skye is said to be greater now thau ever it was. 5 I will add a stone to your cairn is a Scottish proverb.—Pennant, vol. ii. p. 209. ANTIQUITIE ISLANDE TH F COLONSAF SO SO ORANSAYD YAN 5 12 .

say, and some other places. At Riskbuie the burial-place is partly on a rock on which is a covering of stones and soil, and by turning over a few stones many bones are seen. It has much the same appearance as Cnoc Eadareigin d Dun-Croman n . Trace f resting-placo s e cairns wert no e found, except one on the Oransay sido of the strand. The practice here was for every person attending the funeral to add a stone to the cairn,1 the coffin being meantime rested, and the mourners refreshed with whisky mixed with water from a holy well near by. The well was not found and the cairn is nearly all removed. A new road and cutting was made passing through it some years ago. The late Lord Colonsay was very angry at the removal, it having been effected without his knowledge contractoe th y b mado roade wh reth . No sexton or other person has charge of the graveyards, and the graves are dug by those attending the funerals, the tools being brought in the cart along with, the coffin, the coffin being meantime rested on a con- venient grave stone whil e gravth e s beini e g e e dug.deptth Th f 2o h grave and the size of the cairn are ganged by the willingness or ability of the attending mourners. lais cisA dwa t bare some schoolmaster'th e n i year o sag s garden witha small urn, which was left in it. He is now unable to point out the exact spot. On the farm of Duncan lan M'Neill, and near by his house, I opened a stone cist. It measured 36 inches by 24 inches, and was 2 feet deep. The tvro ends and sides were formed of a rough stone slab each. The top was covered first with some smaller pieces of slab, having over them, and large on coverine , rougin l al hg sla feeb5 inche3 tfee3 inches6 y t b s . The large slab is said to have been raised and laid down again when first discovered, but the under covering pieces did not seem to have been dis- tured. It was entirely empty but for a net-work of the roots of the

To make sure of having a stone handy some old persons are known to have 1 carriethein i e r don pocke t fro Colonsae mth ye strand sidth f eo . lonn I a hea a ther s stonef po ewa whicn so e coffirestes hth wa n d whil grave eth e 2 was being dug.—Martin . 262p , . 6 12 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

weeds around ; no trace of bone or other article was found. I suspect that this cist must have been covered wit ha cairn thad stonee an ,th t s have been used for building purposes, part of the cairn still remains up vere th e house yciste o t Th edgth d dyke .f san eo e mostl ar s y builf o t samthe e kin stonecairndof the s.as Betwee subsequena firsnmy and t t e islanvisi th e cairo beed dth t nha n remove thred dan e other similar cists were laid bare and their covering slabs removed. In one was a small urn, whic t broken e bitgo h Th se hol .th wer t ebacd pu e an k e farme th d bee f ha I rn fille . ablexace dup o pointh t e t t ou spot e th t bits might have been recovered. This, although he tried carefully, lie lanthe d do, havincoul dnot g been ploughed afteremovathe r the of l stones. The soil on this farm is a mixture of earth and water-worn stones about the size of one's fist. Several cairns or heaps of stones of the same kind of water-worn stones are around, all of which could have been gathered near and are still being added to. It is said that the covering slab manf so y such stone cist laie sar d bare when ploughin thin go s farm. On a low hill in Uragaig, on the north-west corner of the island of Colonsay, another stone cist was opened. It was filled with sand or soil, t nothinbu founs . it Ther gwa n di e appea numeroue b o t r s cist thin so s hill. Several small urn saie so ar havdt e been found somey b year o ag s persoe th whosI n faile no t traco bu dt e , crofeis themt i t . On the farm of Machrins and below an overhanging rock near the shore some bones wer e esurface rabbitsth brough th n o y diggineA b t . ou t g was made along wit e farmerhth , when bone f severao s l skeletons were found. They had all been disturbed, broken, and mixed up together. Nothing was found beside them but the broken portion of a quern now museume th n i . Other burying-place goinn o spoked e g ar an sthroug , of n e islanhth d small cairns with an upright stone at both ends are often seen singly and groupn i hidded san n amongs ferne lond th t an sg grass. These cairne sar simila graveyarde thoso t rth f eo s attache e churchesth o dt . groune th l dAl around , amongstin , betweed an , gravee nth t Kilmarysa , Kilcatrine, and Church of the Plain, has been cultivated, but the graves ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND ORANSAY. 127

were left undisturbed. The natives consider a grave sacred ground, and hav feaea disturbinf o r bonee . it gth n i s Duns r Hillo Forts.— One islandth f Colonsao s d Oransayan y there remainare eth f mano s y building hiln o s l tops, called duns. Thee yar green and covered with grass. The most impressive of these is Dun Aving or Abhing, or Amon or Edmond, or Edwin,1 about one mile west of Scalasaig harbour, and on a commanding bill top. It is circular, and measures about 90 feet diameter. outee th t structure r th fac Bu f o e gones ei . Froalmosn a mt i t unbroken view of the sea can be had all round the island. Many hundred tons of botto e roce th debri whicth n t k o a f m o e e for hsli th t stands sitee Th , . though not one of the highest hills, is well chosen for defence, and would be almost inaccessable except on one side where the entrance to the fort seems to have been. South from Dun Aving, about half a mile, and on the right hand of the road going towards Oransay, is Cnoc-an-Ardrighi, so-called from a cattle enclosure which long stood near. It is situated on a low hill, very inaccessible would an , ease db f defenceyo d measurean , 0 s6 abouo t 5 5 t feet diameter, and is circular. It presents the same appearance as Dun Aving. e stoneManth f o ys were r dykremove fo year w eo fe ag sa d building. When the stones were being taken down an enclosed chamber was discovered largA . e quantit debrif yo bottoe srock e th lie th t sa f m .o About a mile still further south, and on the same side of the road half a mile fro misolatew lo Templ e Glena th d Conn n f o ,rocko e Du n s i , (Dunan nan Conn). It measures about 50 feet diameter and is circular. e oute Th ruine r bees th fac f sha o ne removed appearance th t e bu , th s ei sam previouo ths ea etw s ones. Due south from Dun Conn about half a mile, and on the left of the

1 Mentioned by Martin, p. 249. The following is a translation of a Latin inscrip- a sculpturetio n o n de Islan th ston n f lona:—"Herdo o e e lies John Maceeain, Laird of Ardnamurchan, and Mariota Maceeain his sister, wife of Malcolm Macduffie, Lair Dunevinf do Colonsen i , , erected this r brother. stonhe o et " In Cauuay there is one of these forts called Dune-eudain.—Pennant, vol. ii. p. 316. 128 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

road after passing' Temple of the Glen, is Dun Coll (Dun Ghollu).1 It is situated on a hill and measures about 60 by 25 yards. Little of the structur remainsw eno t sufficienbu , shoo t tgenerae wth l form. This fort easo s f defencye o woul b t s somdno ea e others. Wes y sout b d tabou an h mila tgree w lo e na n Collfro n mDu o , hill, is Cnoc Eadareiginn. It does not present any appearance of the fortification of the duns, but the collection on the hill is of the same materiaa standin n additioi s greeni s d d ha an ,an t lg ni e stonth n i e centre. It has somewhat the same appearance as part of Riskbuie burying- place. On the hill furthest to the south-east of Colonsay is Dun. Mara or Marn Du abees Househa n onlt I w circula y.t no remainsi halt f o bu rf . The rock is soft, and a large fall took place one winter lately, which accounts for the disappearance of part of the fort. The entrance to the fort is better seen here than in any remaining one, and goes through a wall abou 0 fee1 tt a thick.favourabl n O e see b 2thery nn da eca e from this hill Ireland, Islay, Jura, Scarba, Mull, lona, Tiree, Coll, Dhu e island th HeartachAvingn n n Collo Du n Gallons Du d ,Du , n an , Du , Donald, Cairn nan Eoin, &c. Betwee Marn Ardskinnisd Du nan a h Point alon shore three th g ar e e small duns, Dunan-na-Figan, Garvard's Dun Dunad , an Mgheann nna . hala d f Abouan mile o stw t e wes fro th harboure mtn th o coas d f o tan , islane th f Colonsayd o wese du t d froan , m Machrins farm-housea n o d an , rock juttin t inte Atlantic gou oth n Gallon. e th e forDu f s mTh i o , 3 building is much obliterated, hut it seems to have been circular, and may have measured about 100 feet diameter. It is surrounded on nearly three sides at high water, and even on the calmest days the waves break

1 Martin . 249p , . 2 Pennant says, that in Islay three forts were always found in sight of each other . 250)(volp . ii . . Islan I o n ysomewhana ther du a s ei t similar rock, called Dun Vallon.—Pennant, 3 vol. ii. p. 256. Macculloch says, that in Gaelic W V and G are interchange- able letters. If so Gallon and Vallou are the same name. —Macculloch, vol. iv. p. 262. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OEANSAY. 129

there with great force. It would thus be easy of defence. On examining shellf o smala broke o d stw be l n pins f wero e e on f ivorfound o d e yan on , bone.shelle Th 1s were periwinkle d limpetssan amongsd an , t them were bit brokef so n bone f variouso s animals. About three-quarters of a mile north-east from Dun Gallon, and in a very pretty little bay called the Cold Well Shore, on a low rock, is Dunan- ga-Gaoth, or the small Dun of the Wind. It measures about 40 feet diameter appeard an , havo st e been circular. On the sands of this small bay, and between high and low water marks, tradition say battlsa once was ecalle foughtbattlwas the the d It eof . spears or sheaves, from the weapons used. Bones are still at times dug fishermey b p u n when diggin linke th g sn bait herO . e games between inhabitante th e roath dn o ssidhelde useb d e o an ,dliee t Colonsay th s lifting stone2 (Glach Thogalach), which every young male of Colonsay is expected able to b lifo et t befors callei n uneve a e s h ea mandi nt I . e boulderdifficult th e catchin th d s an i e ,s ymuc a th g t s i hola h f o d weight. Abou a hal mil a t d f ean furthe r north-west a quarte d a mil an f ,o er east from Kilchattan graveyard bacd an amongsn ,i k n hillse Du th t s i , Meadhonac Middlr ho isolaten a n eo ds Duni rockt I . , very inaccessible, paces0 d measure1 an y b . 0 2 s On the hill, Ben-a-Tuadh, above the present mill near Kiloran is Dunan-a-Chullich or Boars Dun. It was not visited. north-wese th n O t islane corneth almosn f f Colonsaya do o r n o t d an , isolated rock juttin t toward ou gChalliachn seae Du th buildse s ,i Th -. ings here see mo havt e been rectangula formed an r f severado l divisions r chamberso clustea f o f housesr o ro , . Tealtaig,n Du 8 hal mila f e north east n froChalliachmDu s alsi ,n oo

1 In 1716 Martin observed that the females of Jura fastened their shawls with bone pins. Stonr 3O Strengthf eo , Clach-heart.—Pennant, . vol214p . .i . 3 Fort f similao s r constructio d situatioTealtai n n Calliacan nDu Du d o gt nan h exis Sunderlandn ti , May.—Pennant ,. 254 p vol . ii . VOL. XV. I loO PROCEEDING SSOCIETYE OFTH , FECIJUARY 14, 1881.

isolaten a d rock seemd an , s compose a cluste f o d f circulao r r houser so enclosure fee2 2 t o f t eacfroo s2 1 mh diametere necth f lanko n O d. leadin e rocth ke remaino gt th ther e extensivar f eso e building r fortifiso - cations. e islane north-easth th f f n Colonsao do O d en fard t f an yBal-namo - . hard, and due north from the farm-house, on a most inaccessible rock, is Dim Meadhonach.1 It measures about 50 by 25 paces. Little of the structure remains. Several years ago the rabbits brought to the surface three dishes, said to have been like a cup and saucer and plate, 1 knife fora d k an wit 3 prongs hf bronzeo l al , . They rusted away soon after. Hugh Bowie, Crofter, s shephere Uragaige th farwa th t m o a n o dwh , tell w storye times th no the w d .msa , an On the next hill to the west is Dun Crom or the Hunchback. This hao appearancn s f havino e g s mor beee ha loo th a f nfortet o k I . Riskbuie burying-.plac r ao e rubbish heaps greennessIt . d beinan , g composed .of-the! same materials, is its only resemblance to the other duns. d churcJSTeaol e f Kilcatrineth ho rhill w lo a side 1 s Cnoi ,01 , c Mhic- ille-Mhiuich e sonknole th th f Mhiniche' f .o r o l e(o s servant). Hern i e former times after the cows were milked an offering of a small quantity of the new milk was poured out l>y every crofter in Bal-na-hard for the e peopl th o live f o wh e d e undeus r ground. f I suc 2n offerin a h g was neglecte believes wa t di dthan i tha e besw t th tcrofter' co t d sha byro ewh neglected the offering was sure to be dead before morning. There is little bo t a seen, onl yvera y smal heaw f stonelo lp o soild an s. On the farm of Bonaveh, on the west coast is Dunan-nan-Neghean. What remains of this structure shows it to be of irregular form. It has not the usual green appearance, but is overgrown with heather. The out- sid e entrance th fac f o es stili e l complet d lintelled an ee stones Th . , whic larg e d undressedar h a an sore f freestonf o o t e ar , e e founth n o d

1 Another Dun Meadhonach has been noted near Kilchattan. custoe 3Th pourinf mo milt glittlou n ko e hill stong ar bi s o other n westeree i th f so n islands is mentioned by Martin, pp. 67, 110. and 391. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND ORANSAY. 131

havy islandma e d beean , n quarried entrance Th . e measure fees4 t high, 3 feet wide, and goes back about 6 feot till blocked by stones. It is partly built dry and partly with soil. Dun Donald l on the island of Oransay is the largest of all, measures f irregulao s pacesi 5 2 d abouy ran ,b for5 7 tsui mo hilt e e th t l topTh . hill on which Dun Donald stands is the middle one of three. The hill to the west, and which is the highest, is called Carnan Chul-re-Erinn, t S Oolumb an e s tlii don es saii ao havt d e ascended shortly after landing on the island, and from which he saw Ireland, as told in his "Life" by Adamnan. Ireland can be seen from this hill in certain states of the weather. Little of the structure now remains, but much debris lies at the bottom of the hill. Its stones would be convenient for other building y havpurposesma e d bee an o s used, s nmucA s . a h possiblo daytw sf o ewer e spent workin a larg t a ge sheld bonan l e e shell middee topTh th s . n wero n e limpet d periwinklesan s e th d an , bones appead sheepe e mostlmarrob an Th o t x r. yo w bones werl eal split. Owin limitee th o gt d timtide state th e eth f alloweo r crossinsfo g strane th d littl dones nothind ewa an , importancf go e foundth s n ewa I . middlrouna e for s th rocke i t f th d o e n , basi i similat ncu thao t r t men- tioned by Captain Thomas as being on Dun Add.2 It is afterwards referre undeo dt r knocking stones. Caistal nan Ghillean, or Servants' Castle, is a round conical sandhill on the east shore of Oransay, It measures about 50 paces diameter and about 40 feet high. It lies in a straight line between Oransay House and the light on Islay at the entrance to Jura Sound, and about half a mile from Oransay House. Several other green hills, Bein nan Grudairean,3 where it is said heather

Is mentione Pennanty db , -was sai havo dt e bee nativna e fort. Much e morth f eo 1 remains see havmo t e existed then than now.—Pennant . 271,p vol. .ii . 2 Transactions, 1878-79, p. 31. 3 The brewing of heather ale is mentioned by Martin, p. 196 and by Pennant, vol. ii. . 262p . Pennant says, two-third youne th f so g top heathef so one-third ran maltf do , with the addition sometimes of hops, were used in the brewing. 2 13 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

s brewedalwa e , Ben-Bea d Cnoc-na-Fairan g Balnahardn ei Dubhn Du , , n GhailleannDu , &c.), were note d visited t calan dr t no thefo l bu o ,y d special remark. The green duns are all constructed of stone and soil, or appeared to thue oldee ar sth d simila l ran al dwelling, b eo so t r islande th n so , many of which are still inhabited. The outer faces of the walls of the duns are, however n nearli , y every, case entirely obliterate r demolishedo d . Much of this may be clue to the elements;l but much is also due to the removal of material for other building purposes. It seems to be a Colonsay practice to construct a new building as much as possible out of old ones. procese Th f buildinso housw ne ega wit e stonedyked hth ol sees f so snwa in operation. Thus correct measurements of disused habitations or other structure scarcele sar y possible. t woulI d perhap more sb e correcoldee th f r o thouse structured san f so Colonsay to say that they are built of stone and clay instead of stone and mortae soilTh . r used reall ykina seem e f reddisdb o o st h clay easilt ygo mann i y islan e partth f inched2 so 1 abou o t s 9 undet uppee th r r surface of soil. It is frequently seen at the road sides where cuttings have been made. Inside f wallso f houseo s e alsar so plastered with this clad yan afterwards whitewashed with lime. All those duns, which really appear to look like forts, are built on hill tops; not the highest hills to be found in the districts, but hills which could be easily defended or made defensible. It does not appear as if any of them, except one in Uragaig, had wells inside, but they might have storind ha g place water.r sfo 2 Knocking Stones Stonesr o r maltingfo t Barley.—Po About yard0 10 s south-west of the harbour of Soalasaig, at the bottom of a low hill, Cnoc-

firse 1tTh monument erecte late th e o Lorddt Colonsa hile lth overlookinn yo e gth harbour was shortly after its erection entirely demolished by lightning. 2 The viking chiefs were frequently buried on hill tops.—Proceedings for 1880, p. alse 84se o, Pennant, . 213vol p sucn . I .ii hcaspossibla s i t ei e tha t greee somth f neo hills before mentioned as Cnoc Egdareiginn, Cnoc Mhic-ilk'-Mhiniche, &c., which have now no appearance of forts, may be burial-places. For an estimate of the date of the hill forts, see Macculloch, vol. ii. p. 197. ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OHANSAY. 133

iia-Faire, or watchhill, and just at the side of the old road which formerly led inland fro harboure mth , there stand a largs e earthfast boulder stone several tons middle weight stone th artifician th a n s f I ei eo . l round hole or basin about 12 inches deep and the same wide. Alexander M'Neill, a e mail-packete creth th f wf o o e nativislande on th , d f pointeeo an , t dou the stone. He said that in his young days pot barley was made in the hole in the stone by beating it with a wooden hammer having a long handle, some water being put into the hole along with the rough barley. Pot barley was last made in this stone about forty years ago. The stone stood in the open air and was common to all the neighbour- hood, each person waiting their turn e worth , k being mostly dony b e women. s ArchibalMr d M'Neill e ,farme th wif f n Garvaro o er d Farma d an , nativislandthe eof , also explaine processthe d , having seemotheher n r making it. She said there was also a custom or practice on some day about a week before the new year for the women to meet at the stones and make some pot barley specially for the new year dinner. Every household endeavoure havo dt e somgrowd crofha madeo o es n r f n theo I td . yha no corn barley, as she called it, some relative or friend or neighbour would supply them wit purposee h th som r fo e . Archibald M'Neill, fisherman, Eiskbuie, remembers his mother and other persons having used the one in Eiskbuie burying-ground. e knockinTh g stone seeme unknowe b o dt s privatna e propert r aysa o domestic utensil kep knowd t insidha housee islande e - th th eon n o o n ,; ledge of such a thing. On making more inquiry it was found that knocking stones were all outside the dwellings, and were round holes or basin n somi s e convenient earthfast boulder ston r rocko e ; sometimes they were natural holes or partly so, but oftenest artificially made. Mr James Munn, the old weaver in Kilchattan, pointed out three, one of which he had made himself. Mr Donald M'Neill, Lower Kilchattan, pointe t anotherdou Malcor M M'Neill.n mba , farmer, Balleraomina M6r, pointed out another on his farm ; there is one on the top and middle of Dun Donald in Oransay before referred to. One in the middle of the 134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBKUAKY 14, 1S81.

burying-groun f Kiskbuiedo l also referree , severath to dn o le b sai o t d far f Ardskinnishmo n G-arvard o n Maehrins o e Bal-nan o on ,o tw ,e on ,- liard, one at Kiloran, one in the middle of the old mill dam, Kiloran, and I would expec r moro fine Uragaigo n et ti don . The only instances in which stones were found resembling one of the knocking stones in the Museum is the one lying beside the remains of the old church of Kilcatrine on Bal-na-hard, and formerly mentioned. Another found beside the old church of Kilchattan, and now used in an adjoining gate as a hole in which the post turns, and one at liiskbuie. This occasionalls laswa t y used when small quantities \Vere wantede Th . on t Kilchattaea onls ni inchey6 diameten si holee deed 3 th an y ,n p i b r smala n i lt hariscu d yellow granite hav y boulderema beed somr an ,nfo e other purposesmallo s s i . t i , e kneNoon f wtho e Kilchatta Kild nan - catrine ones having been use r sucdfo hpurposea . Traditione sayth f so Kilcatrine one that it was the priest's well or baptismal font of the church. It is a roundish uneven boulder stone, about 24 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches, with a hole artificially made in one side, about 15 inches by 11 inches broad and 6 inches deep. There is 110 tradition re- garding the Kilchattan stone. It was found in digging the foundation of the wall which now encloses the graveyard. Captain Thoma s papehi Dunaddn n o ri s , read before the Society,2 refers to a smooth-polished and circular rock basin cut in the living rock, and 11 inches diamete inche 8 roc e d th n ko an rn s i hole deept Th ecu . the top of Dun Donald, Oransay, is such another hole as that referred to

1 See footnote to Captain Thomas' paper as to rock basins in other burying-grounds and cemeteries.—Proceedings, 1878-79 . 30-32pp , . Rock basin Lismorn si e church- yard.—Pennant ,. 415 p vol . .ii . Pennant says tha Durrisnortn i t Locf o d hh Nesen "Druia s si d Temple" of three 2 concentric circles nead centre an , th r hollowe a s ei d stone, whic eithes hwa lavea r o t r wash or a basin to receive the blood of the sacrifice (vol. i. p. 293). In one of the caves at Hawthornden there is a rock-cut basin about 18 inches by 12, and 6 inches deep at one end and 9 at the other, and absurdly called Bruce's Wash- Basin e holTh e . doe t appeano s o havt r e been finishe havo t r edo been much used for any purpose. ' Although it is of a different shape from the Colonsay ones, I believ t coulei e sam th usee dr b e dfo purpose . ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OKANSAY. 135

by Captain Thomas. The Oransay one will be 2 or 3 inches larger, and t polishedno s i e rocth , k bein o friablto g r scaleo e polisha tako y t n eo . It was standing more than half full of water during the warmest days in August footnota n I . Captaio t e n Thomas' pape Reve th r . K. J. Mapleton remarks, '' Such basins are or were common about here ; sometimes on a rock, sometime e islandth larga f o n ssi e e neaboulderon rn LocO . h Craignish there are three or four of these rock basins. Again, on the banks of Loch Kilziebar, North Kuapdale, there is one, and I have seen several 011 loose blocks in several parts. The people here say that they were mad d use s an mortarea d o separatt s e husth e k froe th m barley." Whatever may have been the first use of these circular holes cut in the rock or in large boulder stones, the last use they were put to in the island of Colonsay was that of making pot barley. All the older inhabitants are familiar wit e process th he perso d therlivinon w an o ,s no i neg wh pointe hola t ed ou mad e himselpurposey eb th r fo f . Moreover t i doe, s t appeano f thesro thay e an thole s were private property. o Everwh e yon chose seems to have had the use of them. No trace was found of any which could be removed inside a dwelling if we except the three before- mentioned. Querns smalld an Water Mills Dryingd an Kilns.—Querns1 were used till about thirt yr makin yearfo o sag g barley flour t oatmeabu , s madwa l e at the mill. They were also used after the potato failure in 1845 or 1846 quantitA . f Indiayo e starvinne relieth corsen s th f o o nfwa t t g islanders. There had been little rain for a long time on the island, and hence there was a lack of water to drive the only grinding mill. Hand- mills had long been nearly discarded, but a few which had escaped de- struction were hunted up, and by borrowing and lending a sufficient supply of home-ground Indian corn meal was made till the showers brought a supply of water to drive the wheel of the meal mill.

* Querns wer usn ei lona n ei 1772.—Pennantn i , Canuaym Ru d an , . 292, pp vol,. ii . 314, and 322. Pennant says that at the time of his visit to Skye (1772) the Miller was empowered by the Laird to search out and break all querns. 6 13 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

The meal mill above referred to stood near Colonsay House, and was predecessoa buil y b t e latth e f Loro r d Colonsay. Before this mils wa l buil grindine th t s sai havo t dgwa e been don y smalb e l mills havinga horizontal wheel drive watery mille b n Th s . were e builth f to ovee on r small streams, and were such as are described by Dr Mitchell and by many other writers on the Shetland Isles as being in use in parts of Shetland to the present day. In Colonsay they are called Muileann Dubh or Black Mills. One of them was pointed out on the farm of Balleraomin M6r by the farmer. It stands a short distance up the valley of a small stream which flows into the strand near the crossing place to the south of Dun Coll, and is in ruins. The sides of the stream had been built with dry stone a heigh o t f abou 0 o feetd t1 an 4 feetr ,wittd o wallin an ,8 ha r gfo circular recess back off the stream in which the wheel could turn. The stream was bridged by four or five long undressed stones. In one of these a portion or about one-half of the hole remained, through which probably the spindle had come from the horizontal wheel underneath. On the shore nea thery b rs bee ha en during living memor ya half-finishe d mill- stone. ' The size would be suitable, and it may have been intended for this mill. Further up the stream is what may have been the dam for collecting the water. The ruins of another of these mills is on the farm of Machrins, another on Balnahard, another at TJragaig, another at Ardskinnish, and I think another must have been near the harbour, as the upper stone of one of these mill founs swa d besid f e strea o made w th e no mus e s i here d an , for covering and as a fixture for the pump over St Oran's Well at Colon- say house. No informatio o thest s a en t littl coulgo ee b dwater-mill s having been use grindinr dfo g meal during living memorystates i t i dt bu , that they were used for crushing malt for making smuggled whisky; an e water-wheeld th ther a distincf o s ei n ma t ,recollectiod ol e on y b n watere s sidth it n carea i sizn e . who f th et o y s owheel la sai wa d t di an , Till the present new mill was built by the late Lord Colonsay every crofter kiln-dried his own grain. The drying kilns, which were numerous" ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OKANSAY. 137

in the island, were circular, and about 6 or 8 feet diameter. The floor was excavate fee3 r t o int d2 earthe oe peath whicth n e o ,ts fireTh hwa . walls were stone, dry built, and the roof thatch. Three or four feet over the fire were cross bearers of timber or branches ; over these the crofter spread some straw, on which was laid the grain to dry. Sometimes two doors wer sidclowe e w gettinth r on elo e fire nt d fo made a th an ,e o gt on , other at the other side on a higher level for attending the grain. In the smaller kilns one door was made to serve both purposes. No chimney was made, the peat reek being allowed to escape as it could. Frequently kilne th s were destroye firet y werb dbu , e easily reconstructed kilA .n largee oth f r descriptio s sai o havnt dwa e stoo large th d ef besido e on e standing stone f Kilchattanso a stone th , f eo servine cheee th on r f ko gfo weaved ol doors e e f Kilchattanth o rTh . , James Munn, remember t persi - fectly, and described it. In the present drying kiln, which is connected with the new mill, those requiring oats ground have to do the drying themselves. The Mode of Preparing Lint practiseds a till recently.—After line th t was ripe it was- hand pulled and tied up into small sheaves with prepared rushes. These small bundles were steeped in pools of water for the purpose of softenin rottinr go hare th g d husk which envelope e fibredth . After steeping for the necessary time the lint was again dried, for the purpose of hardening and making the removal of the husk more easy by the after process. In Colonsay this was usually done in the kilns used for drying graine th . This practic f kileo n dryin differens gi t from wha s withii t n my own recollection in North Ayrshire, where it was done in the open air. After the drying or hardening, the lint was beat with a wooden mell on a flat stone smala , l quantity bein hane d constantlgon d an e take th n ni y turned, whil beatine eth dons gwa e wit mele hth lother e inth , care being taken to have the husk evenly crushed throughout. The next process was skutchinge th implemente Th . s required wer skutchea sword-lika , e tool (onthesf o e s representeei blocka d Fign di an , , whica .piec 3) s f eho wa Pennant mentions the two stones but says nothing of a kiln, which may have been 1 latea r construction.—Pennant, . 274volp . . ii . 8 13 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

timber 27 inches or so high by about 9 inches broad and 3 thick. The operator being seated, took this block between the knees, it being upright, and one end on the ground. In the right hand he held the skutch, and in the left a handful of the lint. The lint was laid across the block, and the operator commenced hacking at it with the skutch so e husbreao t th f s ka kof whic h envelope fibree dth . Afte skutchinge th r , the fibre was drawn through between the prongs or legs of an implement not unlike a large pair of curling tongs, called a stripper. An implement of thiMuseume sth s somewhakini n i t s di bu , t differen makn i t e from that said to have been used in Colonsay, one of which however could not be e bes th barre n tobtained e s saib gu articl o wa d lt portiool A en . a f no

Fig. 3. Lint skutch of wood. (28 inches long.)

which coul r e gotmakinb dfo g one e procesTh . f preparatioo s s wa n completed by heckling in the usual way. line tTh skutch her presenteew figureno e Museu r th d o M an dt y mb James Munn, handloom weaver, Kilchattan, Colonsay s m statei , hi y db to have been used by his grandmother and mother, and thus must have been in the family for nearly a century. That it is a hand skutch is undoubted. When shown to many of the older natives they at onse knew its use and the manner of using it. Marriage Customs.—The marriage custom f Colonsaso y appeae b o t r peculiar to the island. On the morning of the day of marriage the brid d bridegrooan e m each entertain their part breakfaso yt t theia t- re r spective residences. At an hour mutually arranged, the bride, supported on one side by a best maid, and on the other by a best man, starts for the parish church, followed by her father and • other friends. Supported also in like manner by a best maid and a best man, the bridegroom starts from his home on his way to meet the bride, and followed by his friends. ANTIQOITIK3 OF THK ISLANDS OF COLONSAY AND OKANSAY. 139

Eac hheadee b piper parta e meetin y y Th db yma . g usually takes place about half-way between the bride's home and the church. No con- veyance e usedar s , indeed they woul uselese db n mani s y cases. When o partietw e usuae sth th meed l an salutationt s and drams have been exchanged, the whole start for the church, the lead being taken by the r supporterhe brid d friendsd an e san , heade pipere coursf do th e y th eb ; bridegroo s supporterhi d m an friendd san s following behind. On arrival e churcath t h each party entera separat y b s e e ceremondoorTh . s yi conducte thy db e ministe usuae th n li r forid n man Gaelic. 1 Aftes i t i r leavinn o over d e churchgan th , e orde th ,f processioo r s reversedi n e th , husban s parthi d y takdan e leadeth , wit pipee hth frontn i r wife th , e and her party following behind usuas i t I l .afte ceremone th r adjouro yt o nt inne th , wliere dancin e pipe e sounothed th th f an so go dt r merrimens i t enjoyed till well on in the evening. All living on the island are made welcome to the festivities, and young people in particular. After the overe usuas i ar t adjouri ,o n festivitie t lfuture in th e o nth t e t homsa f eo the young folks if that is on the island, or the residence of the bride, where dancing, &3. s agaii , n renewed. Durin r visigou marriag a t e suc s describeha d took place, none having been celebrated for two years before. It was celebrated in the parish church, about e afternoothreth n ei a Monday n o nparte Th y. brokp eu from the inn about nine in the evening, and adjourned to the house of bride'e th Tuesdae s th father n youne O yth . g couple lefislane th t d with the steamer for their future home on the mainland. While the young people seemed to be enjoying themselves, and were merry and full of life and fun t appea ,indulgee no kinb y exces d o an t r ddi f . o s din At a distant period, but almost within living memory, betrothal took

1 It was the practice at a former time, and in some instances still, for a small silver coin to be placed under the heel in the shoe of persons being married so as to prevent the evil one marring the happiness of the marriage. The belief that a small bit of silve capabls wa r f circumventineo e evigth l intention t confine no devie s th f wa ld so to the Highlanders. The Covenanters had also a firm belief in it. See "Scots Worthies," by John Howie of Lochgoin. See also Burns' "Address to the Deil." 0 14 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAKY 14, 1881.

plac n somo e e hill-top convenien e purpose th e youn r Th fo t g. folks were accompanied by their parents, and when leaving their houses for e placth f meetineo shoed g hurninol d the sd an yha g peats thrown after them for luck. It was also considered unlucky for either of them to look behind. At the betrothal, the father of the bride had to promise to furnis withher hspinnina g bedwheeclothe chestone bed ,and l sfor ,and as her dowry. The ceremony of betrothal was finished up by. a merry making. Befor settlemene eth ordainen a f o t d ministe Colonsayn ri d an , whe parise nth h ministe como t d e ha fror m Jura, marriages were mostly always celebrate e opeth nn i d air frequentld an , hiln o yl tops. Nine marriages are spoke havins a f no g beent a celebrate d an same y th en da d o the same place. Oaves.— f OnColonsae norto th d hen severae yar l f caveswhicho x si ,, wore visited. One of these, called the New Cave1 by the natives, is on wese th t sid Kiloraf eo largese th nmos d s Bayi an t t I commodiou. n so the island, and was carefully described by Mr Grieve in a paper read before the Society last year.2 He has since then been again visiting and examin- ing it. The caves which I visited all bore traces of habitation, if bones, which foune b ar o theen t di m all evidence ,ar habitationf eo sais i dt I tha. n i t former times, whe e islan nth s muc dwa h more thickly populated than now, fevers were prevalent.3 When thes a househole n broki t ou e t di wapractice sth healthe th e l foal ry member coulo t awaswh d ge betako yt e e r themselvecaveotheo th f e so r on til o lt s thoso werwh ee affected recovered tilhouse d cleanina lth t an , e go als s practice goth wa out. t I e4 whe ndwellina g cam neeo t e d more extensive repairs than ordinarr yfo whole th e famil betako yt e themselve time th er sbeinfo somo gt e caref ,i

1 Mr Grieve gives a new name to this cave, i.e., Crystal Spring Cavern. 2 Proceedings, 1879-1880 . 318p , . Martin mentions that fevers were epidemic in several of the western islands, and 3 record ease fevef seon o Colonsan i r visits e timhi th . f 248t ep ,o y a . It may be mentioned in connection with this cleaning practice that during tlie 4 late Lord Colonsay's time orders were given to have always a stock of dry lime on hand ready for white-washing purposes. This rule still continues in force. ANTIQUITIE ISLANDE TH F COLONSAF SO SO OEANSAYD YAN . 141

one was near enough to be convenient. An old mason is still living in Scalasai inhabiteo gf wh thes o e edon cavea summe r sfo r while occupied at the building of a new wing to Colonsay House, and there is an old man living iu Greenocbors n anothewa ni o regulae kth wh rs i cave rt I . custom every summer for the Colonsay lobster fishermen to live for a time in the Jura caves while pursuing their calling on that side of the sea.1 Colonsae th l Al y caves, except calleperhape Bonnion e dth e sth e Cave, whicn i birte hth h above-mentioned took place more ar ,t lesr fro eo swe m the percolation of water; hence their occupation or habitation for any lengt f timho e excep casen i t f extremo s e necessit r durinyo g dangerous and troublesome times could scarcel e expectedyb . Tradition says that several have been during such times occupied as places of 'refuge or defence Bonnie Th . e Cave seem o havd t s e whicha e on s bee hha e nth the most continuous occupation. This wet or dampness, and the floors being compose grean di t par f stoneo t d shinglesan , whic e s opei hth o nt admissio f airo n , make t scarcelsi e expecteh o yt d that article f wooo s d or iron (or perhaps of bone and pottery) of great age will be preserved unless where they may be protected by stalagmite. Articles of iron rust with extreme rapidity on the island of Colonsay. Even keys and other articles carried in the pocket get black and discoloured in a very short time. This is attributed to the sea air.2 e caveth f o s wero tw e n founI d bonsheld an e l middenst whicno o hd appear hithert havo t o e been t finobservedno d o thad I t . they have been noticed anywhere. Another cave is occupied by a colony of pigeons or other wild fowl, and a colony of either rabbits or rats. Another is extremely well ventilated froa e bacpassag mth y b k e havin a gcon - nection wit e outehth r air. Anothe s frequentli r y used during summer as a place for pic-nics. The Bonnie Cave was found used as a byre for calvestora lobster d efo san r creels.3

practice 1Th personf eo s livin Jurn gi a cave mentiones si Martiny db . 235p , . This tendenc f iroyo ruso nt t quickl severan yi l western island s mentionesi y b d 2 Martin, p. 74. 3 Traveller searcn si f wonderho showe ar s cavna e near Oban where tradition says 2 14 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1881Y14 .

Other Antiquities.—About three quarter a mil f o es fro e harbourmth , and 300 yards north-east from the farm-house of Scalasaig, is a standing stone fee8 l t above ground, undressed f irregulao , r form 5d |an ,fee n i t girth. It forms part of a small circular structure about 12 feet external diameter. None of the other stones are above ordinary building stone size, excep e whicon t s aboui h fee4 t t above ground fee2 , t 1 broa d dan foot thick d liean ,s slopin n angla t f aboua geo t 45°. This stone bears every trac f havineo g been quarried squariss i , s pich ha cutk d mark,an s l roundal t I look. s likblueise th e neighbourhoode hth granitn i t go e , f whico harboue d hth an mostls i r y built. Besid e largth e e stone there appear havo st entrancen a e beef structure o f Th nstea i .s littl a pa s ei e abov surroundine levee th eth f o l g surfacgrounde th f eo . e oppositOth n hile a littlanothes th i l e roaep d th u esid dan f ro e standing stone deeply sunk intearthe oth . Kilchattann I quartea d mila an f , o re east fro burial-grounde mth e ar , two standing stones, about 15 yards apart, and north and south of each other.2 The respectivele yar fee0 1 y t aboud high an inche8 8 t1 , s square, and of irrogular shape. , The northmost of these stones is the one which is sai o havt d e bee e dooth n a r e dryinw cheeth no f s o kg ha kiln t I . cairn roun . it dWithi vera s e norti y0 yard th 2 e nlarg f hon o s e heap or cairn of stones about 6 feet high, and flat on the top. It is about 21 yards acrosss stili d l beinan , e stonegth addey b s o collectedt d from the land around. James Munn said that in his young days the crofters

the inhabitants of the town shut up a ship's crew of Irish who had come to destroy the town. The story goes back to a time when the town had neither house nor inhabi- tants.—Maccullocti, . 135volp . ..ii The occupatio e cav th f Umh-I'heaniai o ef o n Umh-Mhor go Islan ri 177n yi y b 2 fourtee r fifteeo n n familie s theia s r shielling r summeo s r residences y threb d e an , familiee yearth mentione s l i , al s Pennanty db , . vol268p . .ii ; Macculloch, vol. .iv p. 421. 1 Standing" stones have been erected to celebrate events unconnected with the dis- tric whicn i t h they aretheid an , r erectio havy nma e beevera f yno recent dates a , the large undressed stone put up by the labourers of Bunawe near Tayuuilt, in memory of and shortly after the death of Nelson.—Macculloch, vol. i. p. 266. - Mentione Pennanty db , . vol274p . .ii . ANTIQUITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF COLON8AY AND OEANSAY. 143

had their barns built round this cairn, on which was the stackyard. Each barn had an opening looking into the stackyard or cairn, and through whic e sheaveth h s were handed inte barnth o . There ar e several other cairns about, some of which may have been made by the collectin e stonee landth th f f g,o of s which l arounal , s extremeldi y fulf o l s neathemwa r t hereI . , however, wher stone th e e opened s ciswa td an , where others have since been found. On the farm of Balleraumin M6r, joining on to the present farm stack- yard, is the remains of a circular construction about 10 paces diameter. This was formerly the stackyard of the farm. The wall or dyke was set round with large stones or boulders, and the spaces between filled in with smaller road-side stones see e th stils b i t n a o s t l,a ejusy n suci twa a h opposite the schoolhouse going from the harbour inland, and elsewhere on the island. The whole of the stones were removed by the present farme o built r a ddyk e stackyardw roune farmene th d a df ha I r . removed only the smaller stones, leavin largee gth r boulders, there would have been see vera n y complete ston t thieno sy circlecirclMa .e have been constructed originally for another purpose than a staukyard ? On the farm of Balnahard, and on the low ground to the south below n Groin a largDu s i e, boulde rt water-wornstone,no t bu 1 , havinn a g irregular cavity on the top capable of holding about a quart. On this ston offerinn ea f milo g s saiki havo dt e beee nth t pourewels a a s t a l dou other place near the old church, Kilcatrme, on the same farm.2 About e eas du yard0 t d fro30 san bottoe m hillse th th Port-Mort f a m, o n i d an , is a piece of isolated rock about 8 feet high and 4 feet diameter. At .one side is a raised- bench reaching to about 4 feet from the top. On the tof thipo s roca smal s i k l round hol f abouo e inche4 t s diameted an r depth .Mitcheln ThiMa e saltae th lroc th f (Altair o rs k i fear Mitchell).

1 Libation Gruagace milf th so o kt h were stonepouren o t sdou which bor nams ehi e s saii Skye n havo i de t H e. bee handsomna e youn witn gma h fair hair.—Pennant, vol. ii. p. 359, vol. iii. pp. 436-437. 2 The practice of pouring out BOWS' milk on a little hill or big stone in some of the western islands is mentioned by Martin, pp. 67, 110 and 391; Macculloch, vol. iii. p. 350 and 352. 4 14 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

About hal mila f e south hy eastseed churchan d ,n ol fro e manothes th ,i r standing ston hila n le o top . Near Tobar-an-Daim e Stottth r hso Well, besidn Beg d nortBe an e s f , anothei ho r standing stone. Hal mila f e south of the farm-house and on Scalasaig farm, and beside the old road leading to Oransay, are two standing stones. In the middle of the strand, at the place where the crossing is usually made from Colonsay to Oransay, is a cross formed by several stones laid horizontally on the sand. This cross is said to have marked the limits of sanctuar e Oronsath f o y y e monastery,tima on havo t ed t a ha e d an 1 small upright cross also. On the sands between the farms of Ardskinnish and Garvard are three circular mound f sando s 2 called Sheean M6r, Sheean Meadhonaehd an , Sheean Beg. Near here upwards of fifty years ago some armour and weapons were found under some stone y personb s s buildin a gdyke f o , whom an old man, Angus M'Millan, Kilchattan, was one, and who broke the sword. On the island of Oronsay, and in the middle of the park in front of Oransay House, is a large flat topped circular mound of sand or soil. It measures 36 by 28 paces on the top, and will average 4 feet high. This mound is mentioned by Pennant, and by him ascribed to the Danes and the buildings on Dun Donald as of native construction.3 Within the grounds of Colonsay House is pointed out St Oran's Well. It is BOW covere dd mil witol ln ha ston e wit hmodera n pump throug fixed han d into it. On the farm of Balnahard and to the left and near the road-side about the brow of the brae going to the farm is the Holy Well of St Columba. Every one taking a drink here ought to leave some offering.* This practice

1 Privileges of girth or sanctuary, Act, Robt. II. c. 9.—Pennant, vol. ii. p. 288. 2 Pennan severaw sa t l shean Glenurcluen si , vol. . 12 iii . .p 3 Pennant . ,271 p vol . .ii . custoe Th leaving'offeringf mo e stoneth n o s covering holy well othere f so th f so 4 western islands is mentioned biy Martin and specially Lonbir in Knabar, Isla, or "the well which sallied from Colonsay."—Martin . 140pp , , 240 242d ,lisan A f Hol.o t y Wells will be found in " Scotland in Early Christian Times," p.. 183. ANTIQUITIE ISLANDE TH F COLONSAF O SSO OKANSAYD YAN 5 14 .

seems to be scrupulously carded out even to the present day by many. Bits of tobacco, nails, rags, visiting cards, &c., are seen lying on the slab covering the well, and kept in their places by stones. The shepherd r Wei M e farmer f th ro n , so mentiona s i e farmo oth ns wh ,tha t lie began recently to carefully collect all the copper money left, and had got the length of 9d. or lOd. when some ot'icr person found out his hiding place and stole the hoard. A rock which juts out from the face of a perpendicular precipice over- lookin f Colousa o e soutstrane th d gth n en h o d s calleyi e hanginth d g stone hanginr o , g point (Bamean Cro r Beanamo n Crochedh). Thers ei a hole in this portion of rock through which one end of the rope is said to have been drawn up after the other-was tied round the neck of the crimina persor hangede o lb o t ntraditioA . n exist f severao s l persons having bee executedo ns . On Loch-na-Sgoltire is an island now occupied by an arbour or summer- hous furnished ean r picnifo d c partiesa . y b Acces- e t islanth go o s dt si boa e locht forth kepA n .t o t existee islandth n whicdo o t , olden hi n time proprietoe th s r retire timen di f danger.so remaine Th 1stile sar n i l tolerable preservation, and consist of an outer and inner work with round towercornerse th e tower t sa Th . s have been built with shele l limth f eo same kind as the old churches, but the walls are built with clay, and 8 to 10 feet thick at the base. The outer works enclose an area of 23 by paces1 3 , and tLe inne summee paces2 1 Th ry workb . r4 1 aren sa f ao hous insids e inneei th f reo one. About 200 yards south from Port-M6r, and 50 yards off the road on lefe th t hand going south smala s ,i l cavit roca inchesn y6 ki y aboub 2 , 1 t partly natural and partly artificially made. This cavity is called the heel r shoo f Chattao e n (Cruidhe Chattan). Formerly, persons desirouf o s leavin islande g th wishind an , havo gt favourablea e wind, consultee on d oldese oth f t Macvourichs (Currie), who, after cleanin t thigou s holed an , making use of the necessary ceremonies, pronounced a favourable wind to

Statisticad Ol 1 l Account. • PROCEEDING 6 14 SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

those desiring it. Only persons named Macvourioh could procure the favourable wind. The old church of Kilchattan is in sight a quarter of a mile south of this place. The dyeing of wool with some kinds of moss collected on the rocks on shore th stils ei l practise natived ol e Colonsaysomn y si dth b f eo . Flint chips can be collected in various parts, but they do not bear traces of manufacture. During the four weeks spent on the island, time was almost wholly taken up exploring, and moreover it was impossible unassisted, and lodging in- convenient to the places of interest, to overtake any but trifling excavations. But by careful and systematic examination of several of the places men- tione probabls i t di e that much which would illustrat antiquitiee eth f so the islands might be found. In case this should be thought desirable, it may not be out of place to offer the following suggestions. On the islands lodgings suitable and convenient to most of the places which are likely to give useful results by examination are not to be got. Therefor persoe eth n having charge would requir livo et e eithe tena n i rt or wooden hut. Thi s alssi e opinio r th oMalcol M f no m M'JSTeille Th . accommodation of a wooden hut except during the very coldest winter months, would not be inconvenient or unenjoyable, the climate of Colonsay being comparatively mild. During summer a tent would be suitable and enjoyable. By those engaged in the ordnance survey on the western islands a tent is preferred to lodgings during the summer. If only one person had superintendence, barrows and tools for two to four labourers woul e requireddb . Labourers, excep. t durin2s t a t g go harvest e b n ca , or 2s. 6d. per day. placee Oth f sI visite d durin residency islanm ge th n dI tooeo k notes of several wher t i eseemee tha m t o t furthed r examination might lead to useful results. Amongst others the most prominent of these perhaps is Dun Aving near the harbour.' It is the finest and most entire of all the duns. Two months or more might be required. The stuff could be mose rocke ovef face o th Th f tth rd .e easilo extensiv ri t ygo e excavation e caves th n sucf I o examinationwouln .h a e thaon e db f o t f doni ,a n ei ANTIQUITIE ISLANDE TH F COLONSAF SO SO OKANSAYD YAN 7 14 .

wa havo yt mose eth t scientific value e stufth , f excavated fro e floomth r cave oth f e will havtakee b o theo t nt e daylight outsid carefur efo l exami- nation. Inside the cave, where it is dark, artificial light will have to be provided. The New Cave (which is the largest on the island), as described by Mr Grieve, has its entrance down 20 to 30 feet over an immense hea f fallepo n roc debrisd kan . Before anythin satisfactora f go y nature coul e dondb e with this cave cattina , g would requir made b o et e down through the heap of fallen rocks to the level of the floor inside the cave, for the purpose of getting egress to carry the stuff excavated out to daylighe th t afterwardsi gettind f o an t d gri . Suc hcuttina g impliee sth blasting and removal of perhaps one hundred tons or more of the masses of fallen rock. The rocks do not appear of a very hard or tough nature, wheputtiny d b an y n blastegwa e theth dmf o coul ovet easile ou db r t ygo the face to the sands below, The floor of the first chamber of the cave does not show such appearance of stalagmit wouls ea d require blasting, except perhaps nea welle n th rI . the second chamber stalagmite only partially covers the floor. The original floor of the cave appears to be composed of shingle and water-worn stones. Boulder largf so e size wer t seenno e . Takin r Grieve'gM s measurement of the floor of the outer chamber as 95-J feet, and the average breadth of say 40 feet, with an ave'rage depth of say 3 feet, and presuming the second and third chambers togethe havo t rsame eth e floo firstre areth s ;aa thus examinatioe th f thino s cave would impl e excavatioyth removad nan f o l upwards of one thousand cart loads. If three cart loads could be excavated examined an d n averagedaila n o ye wor th , k would take upwarda f o s year. othee Somth f re o cave e smallear s n sizeri , have entrances level with the beach outside, and also contain bone and shell middens. Little blasting being required, their examination would not be so extensive an undertaking. It is, however, difficult to decide beforehand which of the caves might yield the most satisfactory results. I have to express my obligations to the proprietor, Sir John Carstairs. M'Neill, K.C.M.G., V.C., &c., for the permission which he has granted to make such excavation r examinationso I migh s a s t consider necessarr yo desirable on the islands.