296 On Druidfcal Remains. 



libations, for offering the fruits of the earth, for 

 divination by the entrails of beads, the flight of 

 birds, by water, and other methods now not 

 known. 



Borlafe, in his Antiquities of Cornwall, gives 

 us a very accurate and learned* account of Drui- 

 dical hiltory, and defcribes thefe ftones, or karns, 

 with great minutenefs ; and whoever will take 

 the trouble to read his work, may be thoroughly 

 convinced, that thefe ftones in Saddleworth were 

 originally for the fame ufe with thofe which he 

 defcribes in Cornwall. 



In fpeaking of hollows, or bafons, he fays, 

 *' Thefe bafons are generally found on the higheft 

 " hills, and on the tops of the moft confpicuous 

 " karns : fome are found funk into thin flat 

 " ftones, but they are oftener worked into more 

 " fubftantial and malTive rocks." He feems not 

 to allow of their being " defigned for altars *, 

 either of facrifice, of libation, or holy fires j" 

 but I muft fay, that the ftone called pan- 

 cake, might be accommodated to thofe pur- 

 pofes with care. He thinks thefe bafons wholly 

 calculated for the Pagan fuperftitions of '* luftra- 

 " tion and purifications by water. The pureft 

 ** of all water is that which comes from the 

 ''heavens in fnow, rain, or dew; and of this 

 " the ancients were not ignorant i and therefore 



* Borlafe allows that ancient heathen priefts did facri- 

 Ace upon rocks. 



" no 



