Address of the President. 13 



sandstone, resting against each other, forming an irregularly- 

 shaped hole. The covering overlapped the cavity consider- 

 ably, and with the slabs forming the sides was five inches in 

 thickness. From the dimensions of this cofl&n, the body must 

 have been placed in a sitthig posture, for which there was 

 sufficient depth. The long axis was placed nearly due east 

 and west. 



The site of the second coffin was about 200 yards farther 

 along the coast. It had also been placed on a mound of drift, 

 on which the sea had made considerable inroads, and some 

 years since had exposed a coffin similar to the last, but longer, 

 as if the body had been placed in a lying posture. All the 

 slabs which formed this coffin, except the end one, remain ; 

 but the cavity is now mostly filled with stones and debris. 



The clearly artificial character of the superficial parts of 

 the mound, to a depth of probably three or four feet, satisfied 

 the party of the almost certain existence of other coffins, 

 probably resembling those which had been already opened, 

 and of the importance of farther explorations.* 



Another small party f met during the summer. The object 

 was to visit a tree that had been found in Lochar Moss, 

 standing in an erect position, and which, from the account 

 that Mr. Simpson had received, was worthy of and would 

 repay examination. While casting peats this year in a 

 part of Lochar Moss called the "Syke," in the parish of 

 Torthorwold, and the property of Sir Alexander Grierson, 

 Bart., Mr. John Kerr, farmer, came upon the tree in 

 question, which attracted his attention from its unusual 

 position. In preparation for the party visiting the spot, Mr. 

 Simpson had labourers employed, and the peat removed. 



* See description of furtluT examinations ; Address of the President for 

 1865. 



+ Sir W. Jardine, Bart. ; Professor Harknes.s ; J. G. Clerk, E.S(£., Speddoch ; 

 and Mr. Simpson. 



