They Were
Probably Raised By Putting Long Pieces Of Wood Under Them, To Which
The Action Of A Long Line Of Lifters Might Be Applied.
Savages, in
all countries, have patience proportionate to their unskilfulness,
and are content to attain their end by very tedious methods.
If it was ever roofed, it might once have been a dwelling, but as
there is no provision for water, it could not have been a fortress.
In Sky, as in every other place, there is an ambition of exalting
whatever has survived memory, to some important use, and referring
it to very remote ages. I am inclined to suspect, that in lawless
times, when the inhabitants of every mountain stole the cattle of
their neighbour, these inclosures were used to secure the herds and
flocks in the night. When they were driven within the wall, they
might be easily watched, and defended as long as could be needful;
for the robbers durst not wait till the injured clan should find
them in the morning.
The interior inclosures, if the whole building were once a house,
were the chambers of the chief inhabitants. If it was a place of
security for cattle, they were probably the shelters of the
keepers.
From the Dun we were conducted to another place of security, a cave
carried a great way under ground, which had been discovered by
digging after a fox. These caves, of which many have been found,
and many probably remain concealed, are formed, I believe, commonly
by taking advantage of a hollow, where banks or rocks rise on
either side.
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