Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



357 



namely, I. that they were intended to serve as belfries ; and, II. as keeps, or 

 places of strength, in which the sacred utensils, books, relics, and other valu- 

 ables, were deposited, and into which the ecclesiastics to whom they belonged 

 could retire for security, in cases of sudden predatory attack. 



These uses will, I think, appear obvious to a great extent, from their 

 peculiarities of construction, which it will be proper, in the first place, to de- 



scribe. These Towers, then, as will be seen from the annexed characteristic 

 illustration, representing the perfect Tower on Devenish Island in Lough 

 Erne, are rotund, cylindrical structures, usually tapering upwards, and vary- 

 ing in height from fifty to perhaps one hundred and fifty feet ; and in external 

 circumference, at the base, from forty to sixty feet, or somewhat more. They 



