104 



Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



" A. D. 862. The cave of Achaclh Aldai and of Cnodhba [Knowth], and the cave of the se- 

 pulchre of Boadan over Dubhad [Dowth], and the cave of the wife of Gobhan, were searched by the 

 Danes, quod antea non perfectum est, on one occasion that the three kings Amlaff, Imar, and Auisle, 

 were plundering the territory of Flann, the son of Conaing." 



As an example of the monuments of a different race, and of later date, I 

 may refer to the cemetery called Relec na Riogh, at Rathcroghan, the place of 

 interment of many of the kings of the Scotic or Milesian race, and at which was 

 interred the last pagan monarch of this race, the celebrated Dathi, who was 

 killed by lightning, according to our annalists, in the year 400. 



In the ancient MS. from which the preceding tract on the pagan cemeteries 

 of Ireland has been taken, there is also a tract on the deaths and burials of 

 Dathi, the last pagan monarch, and the other princes of this race interred at 

 Rathcroghan, from which I extract the following poem, ascribed to Dorban, a 

 poet of West Connaught, as it will very clearly show the character of the se- 

 pulchral monuments in that great regal cemetery. 



' Niam 7 t)pucc ip tDart, 



qii mjena Roppaci, 



a pecc m-bpoxip, mop a cejjlac, 



ma Qilell oup pino Cipejgmac, 

 Qca pin 'p m ouma mop 



pil ip in oenuc, cen bpon, 



Up! meic pij f-ajen lepoa, 



la cpi injenu oelboa. 

 Q apini no a innirm 



nu pil jrorib DO laecuib 



nocon pil ic pileonib, 



7 ni pil ic jjaecaib. 

 Coeca ouma, oemnijim, 



pi in oenuc na Cpuacna, 



aca po cue ouma tnb 



ccecu pep pip-jlan puacoa. 

 lac cpi peilce loluioe 



pelec Chailcen, pe roga, 



pelec Cpuucan pip-glame, 



ocup pelec in 6poga. 

 Cac cnoc pil 'p lnD oenuc pin 



aca pel laic ip pijnu, 



" Niam and Drucht and Dathi, 



Three daughters of Rossachi, 



His seven brothers, great his household, 



With Ailell of fair Bregia, 

 These are buried in the great mound 



Which is at the Oenach, without doubt, 



Three sons of the King of extensive Leinster, 



With his three beauteous daughters. 

 To reckon or to tell 



The number of heroes under them [the mounds] 



Is not in the power of poets, 



And it is not in the power of sages. 

 Fifty mounds, I certify, 



Are at Oenach na Cruachna, 



There are under each mound of them 



Fifty truly-fine warlike men. 

 The three cemeteries of Idolaters are 



The cemetery of Tailten, the select, 



The cemetery of the ever-fair Cruachan, 



And the cemetery of Brugh. 

 Every hill which is at this Oenach [Cruachan] 



Has under it heroes and queens, 



