LOS 



waters of the lake at one time suddenly rose, and overwhelmed the human habi- 

 tations. Whether, however, the lake rose, or the land sank, the tradition does 

 not state ; nevertheless, there is, to the present day, a strong belief in the 

 locality that the tradition is not without foundation. On this some remarks 

 will hereafter be offered. 



It appears strange that the structure of this island should not have at- 

 tracted any attention until within the last two or three years. Yet it seems 

 obviously most remarkable that it should present a rising surface of various 

 sized angular stones, some weighing over a hundredweight, within 90 yards of a 

 flat alluvial shore, where not a stone is to be found. This circumstance at all 

 events fixed the attention of the writer, and on examination it was evident the 

 stones were not in situ, but had been conveyed there by artificial means. The 

 summer of 1S68 being remarkably dry, and the water of the lake very low, led 

 to the discovery by the writer of the piles by which the island is partly sur- 

 rounded, as it were by a stockade. A few of these were first observed close 

 beneath the surface of the water, and a few inches oidy above the bed of 

 the lake. One having been at once laboriously extracted, gave satisfactory 

 proof of the interesting nature of the discovery. There is no clue to what may 

 have been the original height of these piles out of ground, the tops of the whole 

 of them having been worn by the action of the water to a pointed form. Upwards 

 of sixty of them have been counted. They are all of cleft oak f 10m 3ft. to 6ft. 

 6in. long, 10 to lGin. broad, and averaging lAin. in thickness, pointed at the 

 lower end apparently by a metal tool. In all cases they have been driven into 

 the marl to within a few inches of the length stated. 



The accompanying plan shows the disposition of these piles around the 

 island. Several were disclosed to view on moving the stones at the water's edge, 

 and even within the present limits of the island, where it is quite probable 

 there may be many others. These appeared to have formed an inner stockade, as 

 if the limits of the island had been subsequently enlarged by the addition of 

 the outer one, and materials deposited within. The plan will also sufficiently 

 explain the form of the island. It will be observed that these flat piles do not 

 extend all round the island, but only as far as it would be chiefly affected by 

 the prevailing winds, which, at times cause a considerable sea upon the lake. 

 Very many loose stones are lying in the water at a distance of a few yards around 

 the island ; these may have been intentionally deposited there, to break the 

 force of the waves, or they may have become accidentally displaced from the 

 upper surface of the island. The remains of several round piles, or rather 

 mere poles, mostly of soft wood and driven but a short distance into the bottom 

 are found outside the island, some also at the margin and within it. No 

 regular arrangement of these can now be traced, but many have altogether 

 decayed. Supposing that these may have been piles, on which dwellings were 

 erected, the superincumbent weight would have been sufficient to Bteady them 

 in the water, notwithstanding their having comparatively but a small hold in 



