flower's barrow. 103 



before, and its contents were in a confused state, enough is, I 

 think, stated, to lead to the conclusion, that it had been formed 

 by the Britons ; and if so, may it not afford a clew to what peo- 

 ple raised the neighbouring fortification? I have made enquiries, 

 but without being able to hear, that remains of any sort were 

 ever found within the entrenchment itself; had any such been 

 found, they would of course, have given some insight into what 

 is now so obscure, the history of its formation and occupancy. 



Under these circumstances, therefore, we are necessarily left 

 much to conjecture, and reasoning, founded upon circumstantial 

 grounds. A strong argument of this kind may, I think, be 

 drawn from this consideration. The Romans were, as we are all 

 aware, not only experienced and skilled in the art of war ; but 

 also, especially in Britain, a conquering and dominant people. 

 Thus their fortified camps may generally be found in fertile dis- 

 tricts, from whence they could easily draw supplies ; or in some 

 central points, near their roads, where they might occupy what 

 might be called a military position, easy and commodious to 

 move from in any direction. Or lastly, they might be supposed, 

 especially at their first landing, to have formed an entrenched camp 

 so as to command a secure and sheltered harbour for their ship- 

 ping. On not any one of these grounds, would it seem probable, 

 that they would make choice of Flower's Barrow. That situation, 

 as we know, would be most inaccessible for an army to reach 

 their supplies : it is exposed in no common degree to the winds ; 

 it is destitute^ of water, which must be fetched with great risk 

 and labour from the sea shore at Arislmaill ; it could overawe, 

 only a small, and that poor and uncultivated country; it is 

 alike diflficult of access, as of egress ; and supposing an harassed 

 army, or small body of troops, to have taken shelter there, their 

 supplies could, with great ease, have been cut off by an hostile 

 population around them. These arguments which tend to dis- 

 prove the Roman claim, tend, I think, at the same time, to 

 strengthen that of the Britons, to these works. They were 

 inexperienced in the art of war, and would not, it may be sup- 

 posed, show much discretion in the choice of their camp, beyond 

 the obvious reconmiendation, which this certainly offers, of 

 natural strength. To make use of a common expression, this 



