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

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NOTES. 311made use <strong>of</strong> by <strong>the</strong> Druids in <strong>the</strong>ir judicial capacity, and Kilbar.chan, with <strong>the</strong> transposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> letter r, rendered Kilbrathanor Kilbrachan, would signify <strong>the</strong> circle <strong>of</strong> judgment. The parish<strong>of</strong> Kilmorach still contains many Druidical circles. Kiliar.lity also contains a few Druidical circles. In <strong>the</strong> parish <strong>of</strong>Kittearn is an oval or elliptical temple bearing a striking resemblanceto Stonehenge, though on a smaller scale. To this list Imay add <strong>the</strong> parish <strong>of</strong> Keils in Galloway where a rocking stoneabout 10 ton weight still remains.In Ireland <strong>the</strong>se Kills are also numerous, as Kiikenn^>, KiLlearney^ Kiidare, ^^c. This last literally signifies, <strong>the</strong> temple <strong>of</strong>rove.In Wales <strong>the</strong>se temples are generally known by <strong>the</strong>name <strong>of</strong> Kerig.y.Drydion—i. e. " <strong>the</strong> stones <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids," orMaen Amber— i. e. <strong>the</strong> Holy Stones, These temples are numerousover all <strong>the</strong> Celtic districts; and such is <strong>the</strong>ir peculiarity,that he who has seen one, may form a correct idea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole.The reader may think Ihave been unnecessarily minute inproving <strong>the</strong>se circles <strong>of</strong> stones to be Druidical temples, but itwas necessary, as Mr. Pinkarton has denied that <strong>the</strong>re was evera Druid in North Britain or Ireland. But if we find <strong>the</strong> verysame monuments in both thtse kingdoms, which we find in Gauland Wales, countries confessedly Druidical, it is impossible toascribe <strong>the</strong>m to any o<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> Druids. Indeed Pinkartoahimself (vol. 1. p. 415.) is reluctantly obliged to admit, thatsome <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se circles might he temples <strong>of</strong> small deities; and asthis is all I am contending for, it is unnecessary to enlarge far<strong>the</strong>ron this head. In a philological point <strong>of</strong> view, it may, however,be necessary to point out <strong>the</strong> great affinity betwixt <strong>the</strong>Gaelic Ccal or Cily and <strong>the</strong> Hebrew Chil. Reland defines Chilio be Protelchisma^ or Spatium antitnurale, occupying <strong>the</strong> spacebetwixt <strong>the</strong> mount <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple and <strong>the</strong> court <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> women.He also states that nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Gentiles, nor those polluted by <strong>the</strong>dead, entered this Chil.Lighffoot gives nearly <strong>the</strong> same definition,adding that Chil was ten cubits broad, divided from thacourt <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gentiles by a fence ten hand-breadths in height.Chil wag that space within <strong>the</strong> court <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gentiles, which imme-R r 2

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