The HIGHLANDS of SCOTLAND. 17 



The very general tradition, of attributing thefe fortifications, 

 both in Ireland and in this country, to the Danes, I fhall af- 

 terwards fhew to be quite erroneous. In a collection of mifcel- 

 laneous eflays towards a natural hiftory of Ireland, publiflied 

 by Dr MoLYNEux, Dr Gerard Boate, and others, there is 

 an accurate defcription given of thofe ftrudlures. " Mofl of 

 " thofe in Ireland," fays Dr Molyneux, " are furrounded on- 

 " ly by earthen ramparts. Some, though but a few, are en- 

 " compaffed round with walls of ftone cafl up inftead of earth, 

 " yet without any mortar. Two of thefe may be feen at 

 *' Farmoyle in the county of Longford." The authors of the 

 ancient and modern (late of the county of Down, defcribe par- 

 ticularly five of thofe fortified mounts, which are but a few, 

 out of a vaft many in that fingle county. On the Rath at 

 Crown-bridge near Newry, there is, at the weft end of the le- 

 vel area, and about fifty feet below it, a fquare platform, fuch 

 as we have defcribed at the weft end of the fortification on 

 Craig-Phadrick. The tradition Is, that this platform at Crown- 

 bridge, was the arena where two competitors decided, in fingle 

 combat, the difputed right to the Crown of Ireland. Wright, 

 in his Lowthiana, or introducflion to the antiquities of Ireland, 

 defcribes and gives plans of many fuch fortified mounts, all of 

 which are furrounded by ramparts ; and moft of them have at 

 the extremities flrong outworks below the level of the fort it- 

 felf. One of thefe, which is 'called Green Mount, near Caftle- 

 Bellingham, appears from the engraving in Mr Wright's 

 book, to bear a near refemblance in its plan to Craig-Phadrick. 



None of thofe remains of building upon the hills in Ireland, 

 fo far as is taken notice of in the defcriptions of them I have 

 mentioned, exhibit any marks of vitrification. Three of the 

 fortifications I have enumerated in the neighbourhood of Inver- 

 nefs, are likewife crowned with dry ftone ftruclures, without 

 any appearance of the effedls of fire ; and I am inclined to be- 

 lieve, that, upon an accurate furvey of thofe extraordinary 



Vol. II. C works, 



