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of going to the top of the Hill of Shanthamom, but was 

 scarcely arrived at the summit when the day became so- 

 wet that I was prevented from an accurate examination of the 

 Fort. To some other person then I leave it, who may be more for- 

 tunate, as to time, and circumstance, to examine tliis Fort more 

 minutely. Occupied with Parochial duties, I do not pretend to 

 be a Geologist or an Antiquarian, nor shall I presume to offer a 

 decided opinion as to the origin or use of this very ancient monu- 

 ment. I shall only remark, that it is constructed on a spot where 

 a trench could not be dug, nor a mound thrown up, without ex- 

 treme difficulty, as the schistose rock comes immediately to the sur- 

 face, that it is distant four miles from any place where lime could 

 had to cement stones in the common way, and that there was 

 abundance of wood and bog in the immediate vicinity to supply 

 fuel for the purposes of vitrification. The ancient inhabitants hav- 

 ing from experience, and from the example of their Scottish an- 

 cestors, ascertained the vitrifiable qualities of the adjacent rocks, 

 they therefore adopted the readiest and only means in their power 

 to form the enclosure they wanted. Herewith I send a specimen of 

 the stones as cemented together by vitrification, and also a piece 

 of the rock of which the hill is composed. 



I have the honour to remain, 

 Your obedient servant, 



C^SAR OTWAY, Clerk. 



