[ 47 ] 



of the fort, where another ftream falls into it, running from the 

 weft clofe by the foot of the ridge, of which Ardnorcher is a 

 part as above-inentioned. On the eaft it is ftrengthened by a 

 deep valley in which the united ftreams run clofe by the works ; 

 and on the fouth by a fudden deep valley that feparates it from 

 the high grounds. It was weakeft on the weftern fide, becaufe 

 the ridge on which it ftands continues to rife and run on weft- 

 ward from the fort ; but De Lacy's military knowledge taught him 

 to improve this fituation fo as to render it a moft formidable and 

 almoft impenetrable fortrefs before the u£e of fire arms. He 

 cut the ridge acrofs with two intrenchments at a fmall diftance 

 from each other; thefe are not very large, but he feems to have 

 raifed and ftrengthened the outer mounds of the old fort, and 

 to have made the trench deeper. On the weftern part of the 

 high mount are the reinains of a fmall round tower built of lime 

 and ftone, which I fuppofe wias high enough to overlook and 

 command the ridge ; and a ftone wall, whofe fragments are ftill 

 vifible, furrounded the remainder of the platform of this high 

 mount, and not only overlooked the lower works of the fort, 

 but commanded the circumj acent country. The next lower area on 

 the fouth-eaft fide, was defended by a fweeping wall, in which was 

 the great gate into the body of the place, acceffible only by a 

 draw-bridge over a very deep valley or fofle fupported by two 

 piers of ftone work, one communicating with the gate of the 

 fort, and the other joined to the high land on the fouth fide of 

 the fofle, the wall continiiing round the eaft fide of the fort 

 till it clofed with the high mount in the north-eaft point, where 

 I apprehend the communication between the higher and lower 



( S ) areas 



