151 



resembling the rock basons described by Dr. Borlase ; these are 

 from three to four feet in diameter, and about three feet in depth ; 

 within the concavity of the perfect bason are two small hollows 

 placed close together, and large enough to hold a child's head ;* 

 the other bason is much broken by the injudicious curiosity of 

 visiters. The right hand bason stands in a broad shallow saucer, 

 possibly to receive the overflowing of the bowl. When Lhwyd 

 visited the cave a spring of clear water dropped into this vase — 

 perhaps it was made use of in the mysteries ; but this spring does 

 not now continue. The left-hand bason was always single. -f- 



The supporting stones near the basons, and some few others in 

 the passage, have upon them some coarse sculpture, apparently of a 

 sort of character, and in the form of spiral lines, like a snake, such 

 as were on the door-stone. Governor Pownal, after examining 

 many ancient alphabets, was persuaded that these characters were 

 Phenician.J 



In the centre recess, opposite to the entrance, is a large flat 

 stone, probably the stone of sacrifice, and from the thick blackness 

 of smoke observable there,§ and no where else, it has been evi- 

 dently used either for that purpose or for the preservation of the 

 perpetual fire, such as was kept continually burning in their sacred 



• Sir R. C. Hoare's Tour in Ireland, p. 2.5,5. n 



f Philosophical Trans. Vol. V. p. 69t. Abridged Edit. 1809. This is the only instance 

 hitherto, of rock basons in Ireland. 



X Archeologia, II. p. 259. — In Sir W, Ouseley's second volume of Travels in the East, there 

 is an engraving of a very few characters cut on a stone near Fassa, which much resemble the 

 Irish Ogham, and some of the figures at New Grange. 



§ This circumstance has not been noticed in any of the descriptions, but was very evident to 

 the writer in various visits paid to New Grange. 



The Mithratic caves examined by Sir K. Porter, all contained large flat altar stones. — See the 

 Account of the Caves of Maraga, Vol. II. p. 496. 



In that of Karefto there was also a pillar-stone in the centre. Ibid. p. 542. 



, s2 



