Clifton College Scientific Society. &3 



central one, which is the largest, has a wide arched fireplace. This 

 storey has neither roof nor floors. The lower part of the buildino- is 

 divided into several small rooms, without any apertures for light, 

 and were, probably. ]irovision store-rooms. They all open into one 

 narrow ])assage on the southci-n side. At the basement ol the towers 

 are two vaulted cells, or dungeons. The castle's entrance-door is in 

 the southern wall, and over it is caived a coat of arms, and the follow- 

 ing quaint inscription, beautifully raised in gothic letters, which 

 serves to elucidate its age and history. 



List ze to know this building quha began > 

 Laurence the Bruce, he was that worthy man ; 

 Quha earnestlie his airis and offspring prayis, 

 To help and not to hurt this wark alwayis. 



THE ZEIR OF GOD. 159S. 



This Laurence was himself the author of these complimentary lines, 

 but his recorded deeds prove him to have been no " worthy man." 



I now struck west for Uya, proceeding along the southern coast, over 

 the barren ground. Here, on an eminence, half a mile before reaching 

 Uya church, there stands a huge jiillar of stone, commemorative, no 

 doubt, of some great event in the days when the island was convulsed 

 with feudal warfare -perhaps the scene of some decisive battle, or it 

 may define a boundary of ancient teri-itory ; or, shall we rather say, it 

 inarks the last resting-place of some hero who played a prominent part 

 in his day. Conjecture must always take the place of history in 

 accounting for the erection of aich monuments, for their origin is 

 enveloped in mystery and tradition ; but the traces of a people, long 

 since fallen to decay, is sufficient in itself to awaken human interest 

 and curiosity; but all investigation must result in bare opinion. I 

 measured the height of this stone as ten feet two inches, and its 

 diameter at theba?e as three feet. It is composed of chlorite schist, the 

 rock on which it stands, and it can be seen from afar. It is known 

 by the villagers as the "Stone of Claverhonse,'' and is, of course, 

 associated with their superstitious tales. It has evidently undergone 

 very rough shaping, but i;o one knows with what tools. The village 

 Uya contains several cottages and a shop or two. Plere there is 

 also a harl'our and pier ; and in the sound, formed by the op)iosite 

 island of Uya, is one of the anchorages of the steamboat, "Chieftain's 

 Bride," which plies weekly between Lerwick and Balta. The herring 

 fishery also is carried on in summer and autumn. Uya island is a 

 mile and a half long, and contains good pasture ground. It is in- 

 habited by the propiietor. About sixty years ago a barrow was here 

 opened, and interesting urns are re]iorted'to have been found. Leav- 

 ing the diallage, the serpentine eminence of Galldw Hill is next reached ; 

 its name tells us that it was an ancient place of execution, and this has 

 been further deteimiupd by the discovery of human bones on the 

 summit, where there is a heap of loos-e stones, probably the remains 

 of a rifled cairn. The view from the top of this hiil is extensive 



