1888-89.] Kintail and Glenclg, with Notices of the Brochs. 235 



disordered mass of broken rocks fallen from the hill above. 

 The latter rises abruptly to a considerable height, for the most 

 part tree-covered save where the bare and rugged face is too 

 precipitous for even those hardy tenants to obtain a footing. 

 The view commanded is most comprehensive, but we have no 

 reason for supposing that the founders of the broch selected 

 the site for any other purpose than that of security, scenic 

 advantages not being likely to bulk largely in the minds of 

 a rude people whose existence was probably a daily struggle ; 

 yet to our modern notions, the old building is all the more 

 interesting when combined with this adjunct. At the pres- 

 ent day, what with the ravages of time and the assiduous 

 efforts of a vandalistic farmer, who found in the ancient relic 

 an easy quarry from which to filch material for dyke-building, 

 the tower has suffered severely. But much yet remains of 

 interest ; and were a small sum of money expended judici- 

 ously in removing the fallen debris, clearing out the chambers, 

 and ridding the interior of the trees and earth that have accu- 

 mulated therein, a most valuable relic would yet be preserved 

 to link the present generation with a race about whose very 

 origin, manners, arid mode of living absolutely nothing is 

 known, save what may be conjectured from the meagre re- 

 mains of their handiwork that have survived the tumult of 

 centuries. The masonry of this broch is of a larger type 

 than those in Glenelg, but the design is virtually the same. 

 Portions of several chambers still exist, but the upper gal- 

 leries are gone, as at no point does the height of the outside 

 wall exceed 9 feet. The wall itself, as measured in several 

 places, shows a thickness of a little over 1 1 feet ; the diam- 

 eter of the interior space, about 33 feet; and the outside 

 circumference, taken 6 feet from the ground, as accurately as 

 the broken-down parts and surrounding obstacles of trees, &c., 

 would permit, proves to be roughly 180 feet. From these 

 measurements it will be inferred that in its original state the 

 broch was a large and substantial structure, many of the un- 

 hewn blocks imbedded in its walls being of great size, none 

 more so than the massive triangular stone placed over the 

 doorway that faces the north-east. This lintel is a marked 

 feature in its construction, and measures 3 feet 2 inches from 

 the apex to the base, 3 feet 6 inches on one of the sides, and 



