92 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



be gratified by an inspection of a vitrified fort, and various remains of an artificial 

 description, which are supposed to be the ruins of Beregonium, the ancient 

 capital of the Picts. At the margin of the sea, an isolated rocky eminence shoots 

 up, having two flattened summits, each girt with a vitrified wall, strongly defined, 

 and in some parts exposed to a height of eight feet. This rock is called, in the 

 language of the country, Dun-Mac-Sniachan " the hill of Sniachan's son." 

 It is barely accessible, except at one end, where it is defended by a second wall ; 

 and at another spot, about the middle of one side, where a broad gap affords a 

 steep approach. The stupendous cliffs in the back ground, overhanging the road 

 and the sea, are called " the hill of the king's town ;" and from the foot of these, 

 a straight raised way, about ten feet broad, said to have been at one time paved, 

 and called " the Market Street," proceeds along the top, within a few yards 

 of the steep green bank which lines the beach leading to the first-mentioned 

 " Dun-Mac-Sniachan." Some years ago, a stone coffin, an urn, and a sandal, 

 were found in the ground behind. A hollow log of wood, turned up at an 

 early period, was readily supposed by many to be a remnant of the water pipes 

 of the royal city. The distinction is farther claimed for this place as being the 

 Selma of Ossian ; and as Selma signifies a beautiful view, the identity may be 

 readily admitted.* It is by no means certain that a city corresponding with the 

 native tradition ever existed in this situation ; but it is evident that a hill 

 fortress, for the protection of the inhabitants, and a beacon-station for alarming 

 them in case of invasion or surprise, existed at an early period in the locality 

 here described. 



Ardchattan Priory, which still diffuses an air of sanctity over these island 

 scenes, was the pious endowment of John Macdougal, founder of the house of 

 Lorn, and dates from the early part of the thirteenth century an age peculiarly 

 favourable to all monastic establishments. In this priory, Robert Bruce held 

 a parliament, or council, on which occasion the questions were discussed in 

 Gaelic. After an eventful existence of several centuries, this venerable struc- 

 ture was finally destroyed by Colkitto, during the wars of Montrose. 



The fertile island of Lismore, which rises in gentle undulating hills from the 

 bosom of Lochlinnhe, is chiefly remarkable as the ancient possession of the 

 bishops of Argyll and the Isles ; and a few years since contained a Roman 

 Catholic seminary, or college, under the superintendence of the late bishop 

 Macdonald, who, in the strict observance of his sacerdotal functions, and in 

 his civil intercourse with society, exemplified all the gentle virtues of the man 

 and the Christian. He died at an advanced age, after having been blind for 



On this subject, see "Statistics," Anderson, and tourists generally. 



