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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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146 THE HISTORYnor are <strong>the</strong>y calFd by any o<strong>the</strong>r name, or lhoiig4itto have been any o<strong>the</strong>r thing, by <strong>the</strong> Highlandersor <strong>the</strong>ir Irish progenitors.In Jersey likewise, aswell as in <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r neighbouring ilands, formerlypart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dutchy <strong>of</strong> Normandy, <strong>the</strong>re are manyaltars and Croynlechs,*'There are yet remainingin this iland" (says Dr. Falle in <strong>the</strong> U5th page <strong>of</strong>his account <strong>of</strong> Jersey)" some old monnments <strong>of</strong>Paganism. We call <strong>the</strong>m Poucfiieleys. They arethreat flat stones, <strong>of</strong> vast bigness and weight ;oval, some quadrangular, rais'dsome3 or 4 foot from<strong>the</strong> ground, and supported by o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> a less size."Tis evident both from <strong>the</strong>ir figure, and great quantities<strong>of</strong> ashes found in <strong>the</strong> ground <strong>the</strong>reabouts,that <strong>the</strong>y were us'd for altars inthose times <strong>of</strong>superstition: and tlieir standing on eminencesnear <strong>the</strong> sea, inclines nie also to think, that <strong>the</strong>ywere dedicated to <strong>the</strong> divinities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean.Atten or twelve foot distance <strong>the</strong>re is a smaller stoneset lip at an end, in manner <strong>of</strong> a desk; where 'tissupposed <strong>the</strong> priest kneel'd, and perform'd some ceremonies,while <strong>the</strong> sacrifice was burning on <strong>the</strong>altar."Part <strong>of</strong> this account is mistaken, for <strong>the</strong>culture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inland parts is<strong>the</strong> reason that fewPouqucleys are left, besides those on <strong>the</strong> barrenrocks and hills on <strong>the</strong> sea side:nor is that situationalone suflicient for entitling <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> marinepowers, <strong>the</strong>re being proper marks todistinguishsuch wheresoever situated.XV. But to return to our Cromkachs, <strong>the</strong> chief-

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