5

164 THE HISTORY
to accomplish this
piece of architecture, among
the rest that I have mention'd, in those remote,
barren, and uncultivated ilands?
And how such
prodigious obelises cou'd be erected there, no less
than in the other parts of Britain, and in Ireland?
for which we have scarce any sufficient machines,
in this time of learning and politeness. These monuments
of every kind, especially the forts and
the obelises, induc'd Hector Boethiue to tell strange
stories of the Egyptians having been there in the
reign of Mainus king of Scotland: nor do they a
little confirm the notion, which some both of the
Irish and Albanian Scots have about their Egyptian,
instead of a Scythian, (or as I shall evince) a
Celtic original ;
tho' I assign more immediately a
Brittish for the Irish, and an Irish extraction for
the Scots. Nor is there any thing more ridiculous
than what they relate of their Egyptian stock,
except what the Britons fable about their Trojan
ancestors. Yet a reason there i.«, why they harp
so much upon Egyptians and Spaniards: but altogether
misunderstood or unobserved by writers.
But, not to forget our monuments, you will not say
(what, tho' possible, appears improbable) that, according
to the ceasless vicissitude of things, there
was a time, when the inhabitants of these ilands
were as learned and knowing, as the present Egyptians
and the Highlanders are ignorant. But say
what you will, it cannot fail diliusing light on the
subject; and to improve, if not intiiely to satisfy,