25 
which, assuming the variation to be something more than two points 
anda half, makes the door face south. Mariners allow the varia- 
tion on this coast to be two and a half points, as sufficiently exact 
for the purposes of navigation: but I have, by a mean of three ob- 
servations, found it to be within a few seconds of twenty-nine de- 
grees; and the difference of a few seconds is, in this case, of little 
consequence. For the jambs of the door being built of rough un- 
dressed stones, it is impossible so correctly to hit the centre on both 
sides as to ascertain its bearing with mathematical certainty: but I 
have no hesitation in asserting, that it was originally built with the 
intention of facing tle meridian. This circumstance is most extra- 
ordinary, and well worthy of consideration. It could never have 
been the result of mere chance. Whether it makes most for Mr. 
Nimmo’s conjecture, or goes to show, that the people who erected 
the building were fire-worshippers, I shall not take upon me to: de- 
termine. It certainly affords a strong presumption, that they were 
not entirely ignorant of Astronomy. Fr the satisfaction of those, 
who may be inclined to doubt the fact, I have, in the subjoined 
note, detailed the method by which I have obtained the bearing of 
the door way.* 
VOL. XIV. E 
* Having suspended a plummet from the centre of the door on the outside, I suspended an- 
other from the centre on the inside, with a distance of about ten feet between them. I then 
placed my instrument (an excellent circumferenter with sights, and having a very steady needle,) 
near the wall on the opposite side; and, having levelled it, cut the two lines suspended from the 
door way. I then measured my line from the door to the opposite wall; and, fixing a pole in the 
centre, I found it to be an exact line by my instrument, with the two plummets, I then proved 
my line by measuring a diameter at right angles to the spot where my pole stood ; and found it to 
be exactly in the centre of the building. Ithen took the bearing of the door by my instrument, 
which I had never stirred ; and found it to be south twenty-nine degrees west. 
REMARK BY MR. NIMMO. 
The observation of my ingenious friend, Mr. Bland, shows I was not wrong in my conjecture 
