38 PAPERS, ETC. 
aboriginal tribes, to secure their frontier from the inceursions 
of the Belgie invaders. I am more disposed to this 
opinion, from the fact that Worle Hill and Dolebury, (two 
probably of the most ancient of these hill forts), though 
within sight of each other, are not absolutely necessary to 
complete the chain of beacons, and are situated in the 
very richest part of the mining district, that on Worle 
Hill having been probably an emporium of the mining 
trade at the very earliest period. However this may be, 
it is quite clear that there is a chain of forts of British, or, 
at all events, ante-Roman origin, protecting the mining 
district of Somerset, and watching the Belgie frontier, so 
disposed, that by fires lighted on their heights, intelligence 
of any approaching danger could be conveyed through a 
very large distriet, as quickly as was possible before the 
electric telegraph annihilated both time and space. 
Of this chain of forts, Castle Neroche* is a very important 
link, communicating on one side with Hamdon Hill; on 
the other, with Dumpdon, and within sight of Mendip, 
Brean Down, Cothelstone, Dousboroush, and Elworthy. 
At its eastern extremity, the line of Bleadon Hill suddenly 
changes its character, and from a tract of tame, though 
elevated table-land, rises abruptly into what may be called, 
in comparison with the general outline of the ridge, a bold 
and striking eminence, commanding, in every direction, a 
prospect equally remarkable for its great extent and varied 
beauty. On the north extends the rich vale of Taunton, 
bounded by the heights of Quantock and the Severn sea, 
the Havren of the Celtic poets, the habitation of the 
aboriginal tribe ofthe Cangi. Beyond this may be seen the 
hills of South Wales, the mountain home of Caractacus, 
* For the derivation of the word Neroche, see Mr. Jones’s Paper, 
on Topographical Etymology, in the present Volume. 
