5

OF THE DRUIDS. 133
the forts in question are all of wrought stone, and
often of such large stones, as no number of men
cou'd ever raise to the places they occupy, without
the use of engines; which engines are quite unknown
to the present inhabitants, and to their ancestors
for many ages past. There's none of the
lesser iles, but has one fort at least, and they are
commonly in sight of each other : but the Diin in
St. Kilda (for so they call the old fort there) is
about 18 leagues distant from North Uist, and 20
from the middle of Lewis or Harries, to
only in a very fair day like a blewish mist:
be seen
but a
large fire there wou'd be visible at night, as the
ascending smoak by day. In this same He of
Lewis (where are many such DAns) there's north
of the village of Brago, a round fort compos'd of
huge stones, and three stories high : that is, it has
three hollow passages one over another, within a
prodigious thick tvall quite round the fort, with
many windows and stairs. I give this onely as
an example from Dr. Martin, an eye-witness, who,
with several others, mention many more such
elsewhere: yet (which is a great neglect) without
acquainting us with their dimensions, whether
those passages in the wall be arch'd, or with many
such things relating to the nature of the work;
and omitting certain other circumstances, no less
necessary to be known. I mention these forts,
my lord, not as any way, that I yet know, appertaining
to the Druids : but, in treating of the mp-