an ancient Mode of Sepulture, &'c. 227 | 
equal depreffion of the ground towards the centre all 
round, fo that it is hollowed like the palm of the hand: 
exactly in the middle there is a channelly piece of 
ground, where the cornand grafsfeem to fail, and 
which in all probabiliry was the hearth; fo that in moft 
refpects it is very fimilar to that firft defcribed, only 
is a more perfedt ellipfe, is a little larger, and its 
largeft diameter ftands in exactly the oppofite direc- 
tion to the firft. ' 
Anumber of iron chains, hoops, &e. were difcovered 
on ploughing the field on the north-eaft, where | 
the declivity is continued down from the cemetery 
to the mofs, and at no great diftance from what 
appears to have been the principal entrance; they 
were concealed in a niche furrounded by flat ftones, 
and covered over with them at the top; it was about 
thiee feet {quare, and no great depth below the 
furface. Thefe iron inftruments were difcovered 
about four or five years ago, and were all depofited 
with Mr. Riddell, of Glenriddell, except a quantity 
of the links of the chains, that feemed totally de- 
ftroyed by ruft, and part of the hoops; thefe were 
not at all like what are intended to furround cafks, 
but their greateft bieadth being from the inner to 
the exteinal fide, appeared evidently intended to 
fupport a great weight; or rather being in that way 
capable to withftand more completely the a@ion of 
fire. Three complete ones, with the fragments of 
two or three more, are ftill in Mr. Riddell’s poffet- 
fion, together with the greateft pait of the chains 
F f 2 and 
