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of these, the Saal-Burg, near Homburg, has been carefully explored, 

 and the foundations of all the usual buildings in a Eoman camp are 

 visible. When first discovered little more was to be seen than 

 raised mounds, such as we have on Hampton Down. The hedges 

 had grown into trees and thickets, and formed a thick barrier in many 

 places ; and the idea was, that if an enemy came through in one place 

 he would have a difficulty in finding again the hole through which he 

 had entered the territory, and might be cut off in his retreat by the 

 garrison of the adjacent forts, which were all within signal notice of 

 each other. 



It seems to me that the Wansdyke, with its numerous forts along the 

 line, may have suggested to the Eomans the means of fortifying their 

 positions on the Ehine and Danube ; and also afterwards, the walls in 

 the North of England to curb the Scots. 



The Belgse were far in advance of the ancient Britons in civilisation 

 and knowledge of husbandry. Whereas the British tribes were wont 

 to burn the straw, and to store the ears of com, which they cut from the 

 stalks, in holes in the earth, the Belgse built barns and threshed 

 their corn and stored it therein. But though nearly as much civilised 

 as their neighbours on the continent (says Mr. Elton in his origins of 

 English History) they were simpler in their habits. They had not 

 learned to build regular towns, though their kinsmen in Gaul had 

 founded cities with streets and market places. What they called a 

 town or dunu7n, was still no more than a refuge in time 

 of war, a stockade on a hill-top. Their villages were built of 

 beehive huts with roofs of fern or thatch. But their farms 

 were laid out in large fields without enclosures, except when 

 fences were necessary to separate the arable from the pasture. 

 Such enclosures can, I think, be shown on Hampton Down, and must 

 have been more than walls of huts and yards, for some are several 

 acres in extent. It may be that further excavations may show more 

 clearly the nature of this Belgic settlement and the character of its 

 ancient inhabitants, but the main facts above related are, I think, 

 reliable. A building on my side of the camp, the foundations of 

 which are now being cleared, appears to have been erected for some 

 peculiar object and to be of a public nature. It is of an oval shape, 

 and the walls are at least 6ft. thick. The length 93ft., breadth 50ft. 

 It seems to be connected with what looks like an exterior defensive 



