27 
circumstance of there being two excavations made into the solid 
rock, obviously attempts in quest of ore, in the neighbourhood 
of this fort; both of them executed before the art of mining was 
understood. One of these, Crohane’s cave, (so called by the common 
people for the country, from their believing it to have been the re- 
sidence of that saint, from whom the parish takes its name,) is 
sunk about eight feet into a rock of quartz, decidedly in search of 
ore, and is situated within a mile of this building. The other is 
within four hundred yards of it, and is an indentation made into 
a hard silicious rock. This seems to have been deserted in conse- 
quence of the indication of ore having diminished to a mere thread, 
not six inches long. These attempts seem to have been made in the 
first and rudest period of the art of mining ; and most likely by the 
occupiers of this fort. These adventurers, disappointed in the 
great object of their pursuit, and finding nothing else in the country 
to induce them to remain, might consequently have deserted their 
settlement; and might have left this structure, and the others of 
nearly a similar construction, to puzzle antiquarians. The round 
buildings commonly called Danish forts, though by some denied to 
be Danish, are to be found every where in this country ; and there 
is one of them within half a mile of Staigue. These may have 
been built in imitation of the first fort, by the wild natives of the 
country; and are vastly inferior to them in execution. I am of opinion, 
that the first inhabitants of this country were Troglodytes, living 
under ground in caves; an incredible number of which still remain, 
and very many of which I have myself explored. They are of 
the rudest structure, though I have seen them with apartments one 
within the other; and long narrow passages between them, like a 
rabbit-burrow. I recollect one of them, which consisted of four 
apartments of an oval shape; each about eight feet long, as well as 
E2 
