104 



Some other bones, found subsequently, were exhibited, and a paper wa» 

 read on the subject by the writer's brother, at the meeting of tho British 

 Association at Exeter, last autumn. The bones were examined by Mr. Boyd 

 I>awkins, who recognised among them those of the red deer, wild boar, and 

 bos lonyifrons, and stated that the group altogether, from the greater proportion 

 of wild than domestic animals, indicated a remote period of deposition. 



The only implements that were found were two bone awls, lying very near 

 to a large piece of leather, about two feet below the surface, the edges of which 

 had been perforated, and the remains of a leather thong or lacing were still in 

 the perforations. Three or four bits of pottery were also found, an oval stone 

 which bore marks of grinding, and a piece of bronze, apparently a portion of 

 some small hollow utensil : whether coeval or not with the other relics it is im- 

 possible to say, but, judging from the concentric lines in the hollow part and 

 the general character of the metal, if not altogether modern, it is probably of 

 Roman origin. 



At the south-eastern extremity of the island are two square platforms of 

 round stems of soft wood, the use of which is obscure. They may have formed 

 the floor of a small dwelling, or, their surface being inclined to the water, they 

 may have served for hauling up boats. 



The channel between the island and mainland being very narrow, it 

 naturally occurred whether there might not have been a permanent passage or 

 gangway to connect the two. After considerable search, however, only four log3 

 of wood were found which could at all corroborate this idea. Three of these 

 were of soft wood, and one of oak, with a notch cut across the top. These were 

 found in about two feet of water, and ten yards from the north-east angle. 



From the above evidence there can be no reasonable doubt of the island 

 having been constructed and used as a human habitation, but at what period 

 there are no data derivable from the discoveries as yet made or from any local 

 history. 



Giraldus Cambrensis, who wrote his Itinerary in 1187, makes special men- 

 tion of the Lake of Brecheinoc, as it was then called, the quantity and kinds of 

 fish in it, the wild fowl there, the water becoming occasionally tinged with red, 

 or, as in the present day, with green. "Moreover," he says, "it is sometimes 

 seen by the inhabitants covered and adorned with buildings, pastures, gardens, 

 and orchards." It is well known that this tradition still lingers. 



If this island had been inhabited in his day, so accurate an observer would 

 hardly have omitted to record it ; yet he makes no mention whatever of the 

 island. Had it been formed or inhabited since, it would surely have been com- 

 memorated in local tradition as a specially worthy subject, for it must be borne 

 in mind that these Lake dwellings could never, in any country, have been 

 resorted *e where a choice of locality was open, but, doubtless, with a view 

 to security alone. The inhabitants were either compelled to resort thither 



