PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 23 
from the depredations of their pupils. I think our Club might 
usefully interest itself in behalf of our feathered friends and their 
eggs, and though no sparrow club exists, I believe, in our dis- 
trict, most mischievous war against many of our useful and 
and pleasant songsters is carried on, which it would be most 
advisable to have, if possible, stopped. Some fine large masses of 
freestone, among others the “ gray mare and foal,” were seen near the 
Corbie Crags, and some heaps of scoria, the remains of ancient iron 
smelting, were observed on the east side of Harehope Burn. The 
members then passed through the village of Eglingham, and drove 
to Beanley, where another camp, one of many close by, was visited. 
I have throughout taken for granted that these camps or 
fortified places, are the work of the ancient British tribes; they 
are certainly neither Roman nor Anglo-Saxon, and must therefore 
be attributed to the people, whom the Romans found occupying 
the country, when they added it to the already too wide-spread 
empire of Rome. They exist in very great numbers throughout 
_ Northumberland, and are more especially numerous on the lower 
range of hills which flank the Cheviots. Almost every hill end 
has been fortified, and no place of vantage, along the sides of the 
valleys, is without its fort. Were these erected against a common 
enemy, or were they the defences of one tribe against another ? 
They bear unmistakeable evidence of the latter supposition. There 
is no uniform plan apparent by which they could be combined into 
a chain of fortresses against an invader. They do not form any 
true position of defence against any, except a comparatively 
weak and neighbouring enemy, and in fact are far too numerous 
and small to be more than places of refuge for one tribe against 
the attack of an adjoining tribe. At that time, and in such a 
state of society as then existed, as is the case among uncivilised 
nations at the present day, though for some common purposes the 
whole nation might, at times, combine against a common enemy, 
yet in general, every man’s hand was against his brother, one tribe 
being continually in array against another tribe. A system of 
constant and petty war was going on, arising out of encroach- 
ments on hunting grounds, or similar causes, which rendered it 
necessary for the tribe to dwell, if in security, within its own 
