1^02. antiquities in Scotland^ if-j 



tention of v;hich is not quite so obvious ; although 

 I think it probable that they also were meant for 

 -defence. Two of these are found between the cir- 

 cular rampart to the east, anc! the vitrified wall at 

 E E fig.'.i . These hollows may be about five or fix feet 

 deep, with an easy and smooth descent to the bottom 

 from all sides. The hill is, at this place, only of a 

 gentle declivity, which would render the works 

 more difficult to be defended than where it was more 

 steep. This gives room to conjecture that these 

 cavities might either be intended to screen the de- 

 fendants on ordinary occasions, from the mifsile 

 weapons of the enemy, by way of a guard-house, or 

 to conceal a body of men by way of ambuscade. Up- 

 on examining the face of the hill, along the east side, 

 where the ditc'n of circumvallation runs along a 

 more level surface than at any other part of the hill, 

 and where, of course, it was much more liable to be 

 forced, four more excavations of the same kind are 

 discovered, which are marked beyondCC; nor could I 

 perceive any more of the same kind, on any other 

 part of the hill, save two on the west side, marked 

 G Girg. 1. &. 2. and EE fig. 3. I leave others to con- 

 jecture what may have been the intention of these 

 Hollows. For although I do not forget. that fame 

 has placed gold in. the bowels of this mountain, 

 which might have induced some persons to dig 

 in search of these imaginary treasures, yet there 

 seems to be little reason to suppose that these cavi- 

 ties have been formed by th^t means, as they are 

 -greatly too wide for their depth, and as the rubbifit 

 that has been taken out of them, has ,been carried 



